Electronic bidding service using an item authority

An apparatus comprising logic configured to implement a computerized method to acquire items using an electronic bidding service, comprising:

• under control of one or more computers configured with specific executable instructions,
• generating a user interface through which bidding information for an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• receiving the bidding information through the user interface, wherein the bidding information expresses a bid to acquire the item through a first offer and that comprises shipping information pertaining to a shipment of the item;
• and
• based at least partly on a determination that the bid to acquire the item is not successful:
• identifying, by an item authority, a second offer for a same item without receiving additional information from the customer device, wherein the identifying of the second offer for the same item comprises identifying, by the item authority, the second offer based on an identifying code associated with the item, wherein the identifying code associated with the first item matches a second identifying code associated with the same item corresponding to the second offer;
• and
• automatically bidding on the second offer for the same item.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media containing machine-readable instructions, the machine-readable instructions implementing operations when executed by processing functionality, the operations comprising:

• generating a bidder user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• in response to receiving, through the bidder user interface, the bidding information that expresses a bid to acquire the item through a first offer and that comprises payment information pertaining to a payment of the item if the bid is successful;
• determining whether the bid is successful;
• and
• based at least partly on a determination that the bid to acquire the item is not successful;
• identifying, by an item authority, a second offer for a same item without receiving additional information from the customer, wherein the identifying of the second offer for the same item comprises identifying, by the item authority, the second offer based on the payment information associated with the item, wherein the payment information comprises a constraint to match a first identifying code associated with the first offer to a second identifying code associated with the second offer;
• and
• automatically bidding on the second offer for the same item.

An electronic bidding apparatus, comprising:

• one or more processors, and
• memory to store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform operations comprising:
• generating a user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• receiving, via the user interface, the bidding information that expresses a bid to acquire the item through a first offer and that expresses a minimum ratings threshold pertaining to a seller of the item;
• determining whether the bid is successful, based in part on the seller satisfying the minimum ratings threshold;
• and
• based at least partly on a determination that the bid is not successful:
• identifying, without receiving additional information from the customer device, a second offer for a same or a related item based at least in part on the minimum ratings threshold pertaining to the seller associated with the item, wherein the same or the related item is associated with a same or a related code to a code associated with the item;
• and
• automatically bidding on the second offer for the same or the related item.

A system for conducting an electronic bidding service, comprising:

• one or more processors, and
• memory to store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform operations comprising:
• generating a user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• receiving, via the user interface, the bidding information that expresses a bid to acquire the item through a first offer and that comprises condition information pertaining to a state of the item;
• determining whether the bid is successful, based in part on the condition information;
• and
• based at least partly on a determination that the bid is not successful:
• automatically identifying a second offer for a same or a related item without receiving additional information from the customer device, wherein the automatically identifying the second offer for the same or the related item comprises selecting a linked offer, the linked offer being one of two or more offers to sell the same or the related item linked based in part on an attribute of the same or the related item matching an attribute of the item;
• and
• automatically bidding on the second offer for the same or the related item.

A computerized method to acquire items using an electronic bidding service, comprising:

• under control of one or more computers configured with specific executable instructions,
• generating a bidder user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the bidder user interface to a customer device;
• receiving, via the bidder user interface, the bidding information that expresses a bid to acquire an item through a first offer and that expresses a maximum transaction cost pertaining to the item, the maximum transaction cost associated with a bid amount and at least one of shipping costs, tax costs, or service charges, wherein the maximum transaction cost is expressed as a single field that does not itemize costs associated with the maximum transaction cost;
• determining whether the bid is successful, based in part on the maximum transaction cost;
• and
• based at least partly on a determination that the bid is not successful:
• automatically identifying, without receiving additional information from the customer device, a second offer for a same or a related item based at least in part on the maximum transaction cost, wherein the same or the related item is associated with a same or a related code to a code associated with the item;
• and
• automatically bidding on the second offer for a same or the related item.

An apparatus including logic configured to implement a computerized method to acquire items using an electronic bidding service, comprising:

• under control of one or more computers configured with specific executable instructions,
• generating a user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• receiving, via the user interface, the bidding information that expresses a bid to acquire an item through a first offer and that expresses a maximum transaction cost pertaining to the item, the maximum transaction cost associated with a bid amount and at least one of shipping costs, tax costs, or service charges, wherein the maximum transaction cost is expressed as a single field that does not itemize costs associated with the maximum transaction cost;
• determining whether the bid is successful, based in part on the maximum transaction cost;
• and
• based at least partly on a determination that the bid is not successful:
• automatically identifying, without receiving additional information from the customer device, a second offer for a same or a related item based at least in part on the maximum transaction cost, wherein the same or the related item is associated with a same or a related code to a code associated with the item;
• and
• automatically bidding on the second offer for the same or the related item.

A computerized method to acquire items using an electronic bidding service, comprising:

• under control of one or more computers configured with specific executable instructions,
• generating a user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• receiving, via the user interface, the bidding information that expresses a bid to acquire the item through any offer that features the item, independent of whether there currently exists an offer that features the item, the bidding information comprising shipping information pertaining to a shipment of the item;
• based on the bidding information, identifying an offer that features the item and is compatible with the shipping information;
• based at least partly on a determination that the bid to acquire the item is not successful:
• identifying a second offer for a same item without receiving additional information from the customer device based on an identifying code associated with the item matching a second identifying code associated with the same item;
• and
• automatically causing acquisition of the same item through the second offer.

An apparatus containing logic configured to implement a method to acquire items using an electronic bidding service, comprising:

• under control of one or more computers configured with specific executable instructions,
• generating a user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• receiving, via the user interface, the bidding information that expresses a bid to acquire an item through an offer that features the item, the bidding information comprising shipping information pertaining to a shipment of the item;
• based on the bidding information, identifying an offer that features the item and is compatible with the shipping information;
• based at least partly on a determination that the bid to acquire the item is not successful:
• identifying a second offer for a same or a related item without receiving additional information from the customer device based on an identifying code associated with the item relating to a second identifying code associated with the same or the related item;
• and
• automatically causing acquisition of the same or the related item through the second offer.

A computerized method to acquire items using an electronic bidding service, comprising:

• under control of one or more computers configured with specific executable instructions,
• generating a user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• receiving, via the user interface, the bidding information from a user that provides initial authorization to acquire an item and that comprises payment information pertaining to payment of the item;
• receiving supplemental authorization from the user to acquire the item from any offer that features the item and the payment information;
• based on the bidding information, identifying an offer that features the item and is compatible with the payment information;
• bidding on the item;
• based at least partly on a determination that a bid is not successful:
• identifying a second offer for the item without additional authorization from the user,
• wherein the identifying of the second offer comprises identifying the second offer based on the payment information associated with the item, wherein the payment information comprises a constraint used to match a first identifying code associated with the offer to a second identifying code associated with the second offer;
• and
• automatically causing acquisition of the item through the second offer.

An apparatus containing logic configured to implement a method to acquire items using an electronic bidding service, comprising:

• under control of one or more computers configured with specific executable instructions,
• generating a user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• receiving, via the user interface, the bidding information from a user that provides initial authorization to acquire the item and that comprises payment information pertaining to payment of the item;
• receiving supplemental authorization from the user to acquire the item from any offer that features the item and the payment information;
• based on the bidding information, identifying an offer that features the item and is compatible with the payment information;
• based at least partly on a determination that the bid to acquire the item is not successful:
• identifying a second offer for the item without additional authorization from the user,
• wherein the identifying of the second offer comprises identifying the second offer based on the payment information associated with the item;
• and
• automatically causing acquisition of the item through the second offer.

A computerized method to acquire items using an electronic bidding service, comprising:

• under control of one or more computers configured with specific executable instructions,
• generating a user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• receiving, at a computing device via the user interface, the bidding information from a user that expresses a bid to acquire the item and that expresses a minimum ratings threshold pertaining to a seller of the item;
• based on the bidding information, placing plural bids on plural respective offers for the item;
• from the plural offers, identifying an offer from which to acquire the item, the offer comprising ratings information pertaining to the seller of the item that is compatible with the minimum ratings threshold from the bidding information,
• wherein the plural offers are identified based at least in part on the minimum ratings threshold pertaining to the seller associated with the item;
• and
• automatically causing acquisition of the item through the offer without receiving additional input from the customer device.

An apparatus including logic configured to implement a computerized method to acquire items using an electronic bidding service, comprising:

• under control of one or more computers configured with specific executable instructions,
• generating a user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• receiving, via the user interface, the bidding information from a user that expresses a bid to acquire the item and that expresses a minimum ratings threshold pertaining to a seller of the item;
• based on the bidding information, placing plural bids on plural respective offers for the item;
• from the plural offers, identifying an offer from which to acquire the item, the offer comprising ratings information pertaining to the seller of the item that is compatible with the minimum ratings threshold from the bidding information,
• wherein the plural offers are identified based at least in part on the minimum ratings threshold pertaining to the seller associated with the item;
• and
• automatically causing acquisition of the item through the offer without receiving additional input from the customer device.

A computerized method to acquire items using an electronic bidding service, comprising:

• under control of one or more computers configured with specific executable instructions,
• generating a user interface through which bidding information on an item can be specified;
• transmitting the user interface to a customer device;
• receiving, via the user interface, the bidding information that expresses a bid to acquire the item through a first offer and includes master reference information associated with a successful bid,
• the master reference information comprises an identifying code associated with the item and further comprises one or more of shipping information, payment information, ratings information pertaining to a seller of the item, condition information of the item or transaction cost information;
• and
• based at least partly on a determination that the bid to acquire the item is not successful:
• identifying, without receiving additional input from the customer device, a second offer for a same or a related item based in part on the identifying code, wherein the identifying code links the initial offer to the another offer;
• and
• automatically bidding on the second offer for the same or the related item.