Method and system to implement seller authorized buying privileges within a network-based shopping facility

Abstract

A method that commences by receiving an item identifier, over a network, from a seller on a network-based commerce facility, the item identifier identifying a particular sales listing that describes an item that is listed for sale by the seller on the network-based commerce facility as requiring bidders to be pre-approved to bid on the item. The method continues by automatically recording the item identifier in a database.

1 . A method including:
 receiving an item identifier, over a network, from a seller on a network-based commerce facility, the item identifier identifying a particular sales listing that describes an item that is listed for sale by the seller on the network-based commerce facility as requiring bidders to be pre-approved to bid on the item, the receiving done at least in part through the use of one or more processors; and   automatically recording the item identifier in a database.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the item identifier includes an item number. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 identifying the seller is not associated with the item that is identified with the item identifier; and   communicating an error message to the seller asking the seller to recheck the item identifier.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 receiving the item identifier, over the network, from the seller; and   deactivating the requirement that bidders be pre-approved to bid on the item that is described by the particular sales listing that is identified with the item identifier.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 receiving an authorization communication, over the network, at the network-based commerce facility, the authorization communication to authorize a bidder to bid on the item that is described by the particular sale listing that is listed for sale by a seller; and   at the network-based commerce facility, automatically recording the bidder as authorized to bid on the item that is described by the particular sale listing responsive to the receiving the authorization communication.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the network-based commerce facility requires the seller to authorize the bidder before the bidder bids on the particular sales listing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the authorization communication includes a seller request to authorize a plurality of bidders to bid on the particular sale listing, the plurality of bidders including the bidder. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the authorization communication includes allowing the seller to add and to remove an authorization restriction multiple times during an auction pertaining to the particular sale listing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , including receiving a request communication, the request communication including a bidder request to the seller to authorize the bidder to bid on the particular sale listing. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , including providing access, to the seller, to a bidding history associated with the bidder and profile information associated with the bidder thereby to assist the seller in determining whether to authorize the bidder to bid on the particular sale listing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the bidding history and the profile information are provided by the network-based commerce facility. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the particular sale listing is selected from a group of listings consisting of a charity listing, an events listing and a holiday promotions listing. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network includes the Internet. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network-based commerce facility includes an auction web site. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an authorization restriction requirement is displayed on a web page that includes information regarding the particular sale listing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein seller vetting process information is displayed on a personalized web page of the seller that is linked to a web page of the particular sale listing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the seller authorizes only a predetermined currency to be used to purchase the particular sale listing that is listed for sale by the seller. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the seller authorizes a predetermined geographic area, and wherein if the bidder is within the predetermined geographic area then the bidder is allowed, by the network-based commerce facility, to bid on the particular sale listing that is listed for sale by the seller and if the bidder is outside the predetermined geographic area then the bidder is prevented from bidding on the particular sale listing. 
     
     
         19 . A method including:
 receiving an item identifier, over a network, from a seller on a network-based commerce facility, the item identifier identifying a particular sales listing that describes an item that is listed for sale by the seller on the network-based commerce facility as requiring buyers to be pre-approved to buy the item, the receiving done at least in part through the use of one or more processors; and   automatically recording the item identifier in a database.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further including:
 identifying the seller is not associated with the item that is identified with the item identifier; and   communicating an error message to the seller asking the seller to recheck the item identifier.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further including:
 receiving the item identifier, over the network, from the seller; and   deactivating the requirement that buyers be pre-approved to buy the item.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further including:
 receiving an authorization communication, over the network, at a network based commerce facility the authorization communication to authorize the buyer to buy the item that is listed for sale that is described by the particular sales listing; and   at the network-based commerce facility, automatically recording the buyer as authorized to buy the item responsive to the authorization communication.   
     
     
         23 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 receive an item identifier, over a network, from a seller on a network-based commerce facility, the item identifier identifying a particular sales listing that describes an item that is listed for sale by the seller on the network-based commerce facility as requiring bidders to be pre-approved to bid on the item, the receiving done at least in part through the use of one or more processors; and   automatically record the item identifier in a database.   
     
     
         24 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 receive an item identifier, over a network, from a seller on a network-based commerce facility, the item identifier identifying a particular sales listing that describes an item that is listed for sale by the seller on the network-based commerce facility as requiring buyers to he pre-approved to buy the item, the receiving done at least in part through the use of one or more processors; and   automatically record the item identifier in a database.