Method and system for re-routing items sold or auctioned to a new customer

Abstract

A method and system for auctioning or sales of deliverable items via the Internet permit customers to purchase or bid on items. Delivery of the item is first scheduled to a first bidder or purchaser and then in response to a second bidder or purchaser's bid or purchase, may be rescheduled for delivery to the second bidder or purchaser. A replacement item may be offered to a losing bidder and in the case of a purchase, may be automatically scheduled for delivery to a purchaser whose item has been re-scheduled for delivery to another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-performed method of providing for purchase or auction of deliverable items, the method comprising:
 from a computer network, providing an offer listing one or more items to a prospective bidder or purchaser, wherein the one or more items are items for which delivery has commenced to at least one first customer other than the prospective bidder or purchaser;   within the computer network, receiving a bid or purchase offer for a particular one of the items from the prospective bidder or purchaser as a second customer; and   within the computer network, in response to receipt of the bid or purchase offer, re-scheduling delivery of the particular item to the second customer in response receiving the bid or purchase offer.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-performed method of  claim 1 , further comprising within the computer network, determining that the particular item is undeliverable to the first customer, and wherein the providing an offer only lists the particular item in response to determining that the particular item is undeliverable. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-performed method of  claim 2 , wherein the providing an offer lists the particular item at a discounted price less than a final bid or price agreed to by the first customer. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-performed method of  claim 1 , further comprising within the computer network, in response to re-scheduling delivery of the particular item to the second customer, offering a replacement item for the particular item to the first customer. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-performed method of  claim 1 , wherein the offer listing lists prices and an indication of an estimated delivery time for each of the one or more items to the prospective bidder or purchaser. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-performed method of  claim 1 , further comprising within the computer network, selecting from one of multiple deliverers for the particular item according to a route or time minimizer. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-performed method of  claim 1 , further comprising within the computer network, selecting from one of multiple suppliers for the particular item according to a route or time minimizer. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-performed method of providing for purchase or auction of deliverable items, the method comprising:
 from a computer network, providing an offer listing an item to a prospective bidder or purchaser;   within the computer network, receiving a bid or purchase offer for the items from the prospective bidder or purchaser as a customer; and   within the computer network, in response to receipt of the bid or purchase offer, selecting a particular supplier from among multiple suppliers for the item; and   within the computer network, scheduling delivery of the particular item to customer from the particular supplier in response to selecting the supplier.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-performed method of  claim 8 , wherein the selecting selects the particular supplier according to a route or time minimizer. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-performed method of  claim 8 , wherein the providing provides the offer offering the item for auction, wherein the receiving receives a winning bid for the item, and wherein the selecting selects the particular supplier in response to the receiving having received the winning bid.