<p>A computer-based method and system for a subscription bid-pool business model to conduct a sale or auction. The invention discloses conducting an online auction in which a nonredeemable fee (301) is collected from each auction participant (210) to enter the bidder pool (240) for a particular item. The collective nonredeemable fees (254) from all bidders are then allocated to reduce the minimum bid (255) required to purchase the item for the seller's asking price (253) and to pay the transactional costs associated with the auction. Using this invention, a high value item can be purchased at very low cost to the high bidder, without the seller having to accept a reduced price. This invention is amenable to a variety of auction systems because the computer-based auction and sale system can ensure the seller obtains their asking price for an item without requiring that the item be awarded to the high bidder.</p>
