Patent ID: 8065192

Claim:
A method for network based purchasing, comprising: providing a network based purchasing system having a computer processor, coupled to a set of computing devices affiliated with one of a plurality of organizations; providing a location on a network, wherein the location presents the opportunity to purchase a base product customized according to buyer preferences; accepting a first order from a first buyer through the location prior to an expiration date, wherein the first order includes a first quantity of the base product customized according to product design options specified by the first buyer; associating a first price with the first quantity based on a first tiered pricing matrix, wherein the first tiered pricing matrix includes ranges of quantities and associated prices; accepting a second order from a second buyer through the location prior to the expiration date, wherein the second order includes a second quantity of the base product customized according to product design options specified by the second buyer, wherein the product design options specified by the second buyer are different than the product design options specified by the first buyer; associating a second price with the second quantity based on a second tiered pricing matrix, wherein the second tiered pricing matrix includes ranges of quantities and associated prices and further wherein the associated prices in the second tiered pricing matrix are different than the associated prices in the first tiered pricing matrix; determining an aggregate purchase quantity by aggregating the first quantity of the base product customized according to the product design options specified by the first buyer and the second quantity of the base product customized according to the product design options specified by the second buyer; determining, using a computer processor, a revised first price based on the aggregate purchase quantity and the first tiered pricing matrix, wherein the revised first price is lower than the first price; and charging the first buyer the revised first price for the first quantity of the base product customized according to the product design options specified by the first buyer.