Online Marketplace for Sale of Discounted Stated Value Vouchers Redeemable by Vendors

A computer-implemented method for managing a vendor's inventory of items for sale, said method being computer-implemented by a marketplace server computer having a microprocessor and a memory for storing instructions executable by the microprocessor, the method comprising:

• receiving at the marketplace server computer the vendor's commitment to sell stated value vouchers having a stated cash value, each stated value voucher being redeemable by the vendor in the amount of the stated cash value for purchase of items from the vendor's inventory;
• receiving at the marketplace server computer the vendor's identification of a minimum bid acceptable to the vendor for sale of a stated value voucher, the vendor providing varying instructions from time to time;
• transmitting from the marketplace server computer data for causing display at a bidder's computing device of a for-sale listing identifying a specified number of the stated value vouchers available for sale;
• receiving at the marketplace server computer a plurality of bids for the stated value vouchers from a plurality of bidders' computing devices;
• comparing at the marketplace server computer each of the plurality of bids to the vendor's current time-variant minimum acceptable bid;
• approving at the marketplace server computer sale of a stated value voucher to the corresponding bidder for each bid exceeding a current minimum acceptable bid, a collective number of approved sales exceeding the specified number of stated value vouchers for sale;
• and
• tendering a respective stated value voucher to each respective bidder for each approved sale.

A computer program product comprising instructions recorded on a computer-readable medium, the instructions being executable by a microprocessor of a marketplace server computer to cause the marketplace server computer to:

• receive a vendor's commitment to sell stated value vouchers having a stated cash value;
• receive, from time to time, the vendor's identification of a minimum bid acceptable to the vendor for sale of a stated value voucher;
• transmit data for causing display at a bidder's computing device of a for-sale listing identifying a specified number of the stated value vouchers available for sale;
• receive a plurality of bids for the stated value vouchers from a plurality of bidders' computing devices;
• compare each of the plurality of bids to the vendor's current time-variant minimum acceptable bid;
• approve sale of a stated value voucher to the corresponding bidder for each bid exceeding a current minimum acceptable bid;
• and
• authorize tendering of a respective stated value voucher to each respective bidder for each approved sale.

A computer-implemented method for managing a vendor's inventory of items for sale, said method being computer-implemented by a marketplace server computer having a microprocessor and a memory for storing instructions executable by the microprocessor, the method comprising the microprocessor executing the instructions to cause the marketplace server computer to:

• display at a buyer's computing device a for-sale listing identifying a lot of stated value vouchers available for purchase, each stated value voucher having a stated cash value, each stated value voucher being redeemable by the vendor in the amount of the stated cash value for purchase of an item from the vendor, but being available for purchase at less than the stated cash value;
• reference a predetermined rule applicable to sale of the lot of stated value vouchers;
• approve sale of the stated value vouchers to a plurality of buyers according to the rule;
• and
• tender a respective stated value voucher to each of the plurality of buyers.

A computer-implemented method for managing a vendor's inventory of items for sale, said method being computer-implemented by a marketplace server computer having a microprocessor and a memory for storing instructions executable by the microprocessor, the method comprising:

• transmitting from the marketplace server computer data for causing display at a computing device of a for-sale listing identifying a specified number of stated value vouchers available for purchase, each of the stated value vouchers having a stated cash value, each stated value voucher being redeemable by the vendor in the amount of the stated cash value for purchase of an item from the vendor;
• receiving at the marketplace server computer a plurality of buyers' indications to purchase the stated value vouchers from a plurality of buyer's computing devices;
• comparing at the marketplace server computer the plurality of indications to the vendor's instructions for approval of sale of the specified number of stated value vouchers;
• approving at the marketplace server computer sale of the specified number of stated value vouchers to the plurality of buyers consistent with the vendor's instructions for approval of sale of the specified number of stated value vouchers;
• and
• tendering a respective stated value voucher to each of the plurality of buyers.

A computer-implemented method for processing payment transactions for purchases of stated value vouchers made by a plurality of buyers, said method being computer-implemented by a marketplace server computer having a microprocessor and a memory for storing instructions executable by the microprocessor, the method comprising:

• transmitting from the marketplace server computer data for causing display at a computing device of a for-sale listing identifying a plurality of stated value vouchers available for purchase, each of the stated value vouchers having a stated cash value, each stated value voucher being redeemable by the vendor in the amount of the stated cash value for purchase of an item from the vendor;
• approving sale of a stated value voucher to a buyer consistent with a predetermined rule for sale of the stated value vouchers;
• receiving at the marketplace server computer the buyer's payment processing information for use to purchase the stated value voucher;
• referencing information stored at the marketplace server computer to identify contact information for the vendor, the contact information identifying a payment processing computer system;
• transmitting transaction information from the marketplace server computer to the payment processing computer system identified by the vendor's contact information, the transaction information comprising the buyer's payment processing information and sale transaction-related information;
• and
• the payment processing computer system fulfilling sale of the stated value voucher to the buyer by processing a payment using the buyer's payment processing information and tendering the purchased stated value voucher to the buyer using the transaction-related information.