Our Patent Pending method of selling an item using a network, the method comprising the steps of:
Receiving information on the item, the information including volume pricing information for the item, the volume pricing information comprising at least one volume purchase price and information on the required quantity of the item to be purchased for the volume purchase price to apply;
Offering the item for sale, the offer information including a standard sale price and at least one volume sale price, the offer information including the remaining quantity that needs to be purchased to meet the required quantity for the volume price to apply and the timeframe for delivery,
Receiving an offer to purchase at the volume sale price, the offer to purchase including a quantity to be purchased;
Adjusting the remaining quantity by the quantity in the purchase offer, the offer information updated to reflect the adjustment to the remaining quantity; and
when the remaining quantity is zero or less activating the volume purchase, supplying the items and resetting remaining quantity to start from the required quantity.
System
2. A system for selling an item using a network, the system comprising:
- a processor;
- a network interface;
- memory, the memory storing a program, the program when executed by the processor, carrying out the steps of:
- receiving information on the item, the information including volume pricing information for the item, the volume pricing information comprising at least one volume purchase price and information on the required quantity of the item to be purchased for the volume purchase price to apply;
- offering the item for sale, the offer information including a standard sale price and at least one volume sale price, the offer information including the remaining quantity that needs to be purchased to meet the required quantity for the volume price to apply;
- receiving an offer to purchase at the volume sale price, the offer to purchase including a quantity to be purchased;
- adjusting the remaining quantity by the quantity in the purchase offer, the offer information updated to reflect the adjustment to the remaining quantity; and
- when the remaining quantity is zero or less activating the volume purchase, arranging to supply the items and resetting remaining quantity to start from the required quantity.
System V2
2. A system for selling an item using a network the system comprising:
- an information receiving module, the information receiving module receiving information on the item, the information including volume pricing information for the item, the volume pricing information comprising at least one volume purchase price and information on the required quantity of the item to be purchased for the volume purchase price to apply;
- an offer module, the offer module offering the item for sale, the offer information including a standard sale price and at least one volume sale price, the offer information including the remaining quantity that needs to be purchased to meet the required quantity for the volume price to apply;
- an offer receiving module, the offer receiving module receiving an offer to purchase at the volume sale price, the offer to purchase including a quantity to be purchased;
- an adjustment module, the adjustment module adjusting the remaining quantity by the quantity in the purchase offer, the offer information updated to reflect the adjustment to the remaining quantity; and
- an offer activation module, the offer activation module when the remaining quantity is zero or less activating the volume purchase, arranging to supplying the items and resetting the remaining quantity to start from the required quantity.
Sub-claim features
- Plurality of items are sold
- Deadline is set a deadline when first offer to purchase is made
- Option to display the deadline
- Option to extend the deadline after sufficient purchase offers have been made eg to midnight
- Rejecting the offers and resetting the resetting remaining quantity to start from the required quantity
- Provide option for customers to reactivate their offers if a subsequent first offer to purchase is made
- Reminders to customers if a time period has passed without sufficient purchase offers having been made (but prior to the expiration of the timeframe for the volume price)
- Automated promotion of offer by customer who has made an offer
- Facebook, email, twitter, Google +
- Reminders to customers as appropriate
- Option for system to activate the volume purchase by purchasing the remaining quantity.
- Option to set the remaining quantity above the required quantity based on product history
- Option to alter the deadline period depending on product history