METHOD FOR FACILITATING COMMERCE AT AN INTERNET-BASED AUCTION

A method for facilitating commerce at an internet-based auction is disclosed. The method includes authorizing a first participant to post an item for auction at an internet auction site. A communication handler program executes on a host computer and receives information from the first participant about an item to be auctioned. The received information includes a designation of a category selected from a list of categories, under which the item is to be auctioned. The received information is processed into a presentation format with a database-to-presentation format formatting program. The presentation format includes an indication of the category of the item to be auctioned. The presentation formatted information is presented to a plurality of internet participants. The host computer then receives at least one bid for the auctioned item from at least one of the internet participants.