Friday 12 October 2012

Ever Tried Haggling Online?

One of the things I like about my website is that transactions are clean and simple without that tiresome bargaining that goes on at my market stall. But that may all change if Amazon has its way.
Amazon is that incredibly successful website that sells just about anything and often at the cheapest price available. They have just patented a method of online haggling that will attempt to mirror a face to face exchange. The system allows buyers and sellers to make offers and counter-offers until a deal is reached or abandoned. To keep things in line a points system measures how each participant conducts themselves, so as to avoid things like false claims from suppliers and time-wasting from buyers.
The idea is only at patent stage but would add a new dimension to online buying if introduced.