Auction method and server

An auction server, comprising:

• a storage configured to maintain a database of an upper limit of a bidding price range for a specific product, a lower limit of the bidding price range offered by a seller, and a limited number of winning bidders;
• a receiver configured to receive bidding information including bidding prices for the specific product from bidders, the bidding prices being within the bidding price range;
• a selector configured to select a group of winning bidders after termination of bidding such that the winning bidders are selected in descending order of the bidding prices and a total number of the winning bidders is equal to the limited number of winning bidders, wherein bidding is terminated when a predetermined bidding time is elapsed;
• a payment processor configured to apply a lowest bidding price among bidding prices of the winning bidders as a final sale price to all of the winning bidders and to request payment from the winning bidders as the final sale price;
• a controller configured to control the storage, the receiver, the selector, and the payment processor;
• and
• a settlement unit configured to determine an auction commission based on an amount calculated by subtracting the lower limit of the bidding price range from the final sale price, wherein if at least one of the winning bidders previously paid a corresponding bidding price, the payment processor determines a refund amount calculated by subtracting the final sale price from the previously paid bidding price.