System and method for an automated sales system with remote negotiation and post-sale verification

A computer-implemented method for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said method comprising:

• receiving, from said at least one bidder, item data about said item and a first offer to purchase said item at first sales terms, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;
• receiving, from said seller, a second offer to sell said item at new sales terms;
• and
• selecting said at least one bidder to buy said item at said new sales terms,
• wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms,
• wherein said new sales terms in said second offer from said seller includes a price for said item above an original price set by said seller and below a price in said first sales terms from said at least one bidder,
• wherein communications between said seller and said at least one bidder involve at least one electronic device,
• wherein said seller, in said receiving, employs at least one electronic device to forward said second offer with new sales terms.

A computer-implemented method for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said method comprising:

• receiving, from said seller to said at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;
• counteroffering, by said seller, in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,
• wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer, said bid price being greater than or equal to a listed ask price in said item data, and said offer of said at least one bidder and the counteroffer by said seller being relayed in substantially real-time;
• and
• selecting, among said at least one bidder, a buyer of said item at said new sales terms,
• wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms,
• wherein communications between said seller and said at least one bidder involve at least one electronic device,
• wherein said seller, in said counteroffering, employs at least one electronic device to forward said new sales terms to said at least one bidder.

A computer-implemented system for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said system comprising:

• means for receiving from said seller to said at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;
• means for counteroffering by said seller, in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,
• wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being less than a listed ask price in said item data and greater than a bid price in said offer, and said offer of said at least one bidder and the counteroffer by said seller being relayed in substantially real-time;
• means for selecting, among said at least one bidder, a buyer of said item at said new sales terms,
• wherein, in said means for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms,
• wherein said system includes communications means between said seller and said at least one bidder.

A system for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said system comprising:

• means for receiving, from said at least one bidder, item data about said item and a first offer to purchase said item at first sales terms, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;
• means for receiving from said seller a second offer to sell said item at new sales terms;
• and
• means for selecting said at least one bidder to buy said item at said new sales terms;
• wherein, in said means for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms,
• wherein said new sales terms in said second offer from said seller includes a price for said item above an original price set by said seller and below a price in said first sales terms from said at least one bidder,
• wherein said system includes communications means between said seller and said at least one bidder.

A system for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said system comprising:

• means for receiving, from said seller to said at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or a service item for sale;
• means for counteroffering by said seller, in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,
• wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer, said bid price being greater than or equal to a listed ask price in said item data, and said offer of said at least one bidder and the counteroffer by said seller being relayed in substantially real-time;
• and
• means for selecting, among said at least one bidder, a buyer of said item at said new sales terms;
• wherein, in said means for selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms,
• wherein communications between said seller and said at least one bidder involve at least one electronic device.

A non-transitory data storage medium with computer-executable instructions thereon for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said data storage medium comprising:

• instructions for receiving, from said seller to said at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;
• in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, instructions for counteroffering, by said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,
• wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being less than a listed ask price in said item data and greater than a bid price in said offer, and said offer of said at least one bidder and the counteroffer by said seller being relayed in substantially real-time;
• and
• instructions for selecting, among said at least one bidder, a buyer of said item at said new sales terms,
• wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.

A non-transitory data storage medium with computer-executable instructions thereon for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said data storage medium comprising:

• instructions for receiving, from said at least one bidder, item data about said item and a first offer to purchase said item at first sales terms, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;
• instructions for receiving from said seller a second offer to sell said item at new sales terms;
• and
• instructions for selecting said at least one bidder to buy said item at said new sales terms,
• wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms;
• wherein said new sales terms in said second offer from said seller includes a price for said item above an original price set by said seller and below a price in said first sales terms from said at least one bidder.

A non-transitory data storage medium with computer-executable instructions thereon for facilitating the negotiation and sale of an item between a seller and at least one bidder across a network, said seller and said at least one bidder being remote from one another, said data storage medium comprising:

• instructions for receiving, from said seller to said at least one bidder, item data about said item, said item data comprising sales terms, and wherein said item is at least one physical item or at least one service item for sale;
• in response to an offer by said at least one bidder to said seller, instructions for counteroffering, by said seller, with new sales terms to said at least one bidder,
• wherein said new sales terms include a new price, said new price being greater than a bid price in said offer, said bid price being greater than or equal to a listed ask price in said item data, and said offer of said at least one bidder and the counteroffer by said seller being relayed in substantially real-time;
• and
• instructions for selecting, among said at least one bidder, a buyer of said item at said new sales terms,
• wherein, in said selecting, if a particular at least one bidder or a different bidder offers terms at or above said new sales terms, the particular or different bidder is selected as the buyer of said item at said terms.