System and network for obtaining competitive quotes on user-configured articles

A method comprising:

• receiving across a computer network configuration data for an article from a potential purchaser;
• automatically sending the configuration data to a plurality of participating dealers of like articles;
• receiving at least a first quote from a first one of said dealers, said first quote being for providing an article that exactly matches the configuration data provided by the potential purchaser;
• receiving from a second one of said dealers:
• at least a second quote, said second quote being for providing a near-match article that closely but not exactly matches the configuration data;
• and
• data indicating a difference between the near-match article and the configuration data provided by the potential purchaser;
• automatically selecting from among a plurality of exact match quotes received a lowest exact match quote and forwarding the exact match quote to the potential purchaser;
• and
• automatically forwarding contact information to at least one of the potential purchaser and the dealer who submitted the lowest exact match quote.

A method comprising:

• receiving requests from a plurality of vendors to participate in a referral program;
• receiving specification data from a potential purchaser;
• selecting from the plurality of vendors a first subset of vendors based at least in part on the specification data, the first vendor subset including at least two members thereof;
• communicating at least a portion of the specification data to the first vendor subset and receiving from the first vendor subset respective selling bids;
• selecting from the received selling bids a first bid and forwarding the first bid to the potential purchaser;
• communicating contact information for the potential purchaser to at least a first selected vendor whose selling bid was selected and forwarded to the potential purchaser;
• and
• charging a fee to the first selected vendor.

A method comprising:

• receiving electronically information regarding one or more articles from a potential purchaser;
• sending electronically said information to a plurality of dealers of such articles;
• receiving electronically offers from said dealers to sell articles at respective specified prices;
• selecting at least one of said offers based on price, said selected offer having been submitted by a first dealer;
• and
• forwarding contact information for the potential purchaser to the first dealer and charging a referral fee to the first dealer.

A method of facilitating competitive commerce comprising:

• receiving an inquiry regarding a specified article from a potential purchaser thereof;
• soliciting from sellers of like articles selling bids for said specified article and receiving selling bids in response thereto;
• selecting a lowest bid from a bid pool, said bid pool comprising at least a subset of said received bids;
• advising the potential buyer of the lowest bid and of the identity of the corresponding seller, said corresponding seller defining the bid winner;
• providing a means for the bid winner to contact the potential buyer;
• and
• charging a fee to the bid winner.

A method of soliciting and receiving competitive quotes for a user-configured article and communicating information about said quotes comprising:

• allowing a consumer to configure an article using a browser program;
• sending the configuration information to a plurality of vendors;
• receiving respective quotes for the configured article from at least some of said vendors;
• and
• while a quote period remains open for receiving additional quotes, apprising the user of progress of said quotes received.

A system for facilitating competitive quotes for selling a shopper-configured article comprising:

• means for allowing a shopper to specify a configuration of an article for possible purchase by the shopper;
• means for electronically gathering a plurality of quotes for the article from a plurality of vendors;
• means for automatically identifying one of said quotes as being a preferred quote;
• means for forwarding the preferred quote to the shopper and specifically identifying the preferred quote as being preferred;
• and
• means for allowing the vendor who submitted the preferred quote to contact the shopper.