Introduction
Business models are possibly the most discussed and least understood facet of the web. Brokerage models, such as Priceline.com are market makers: they bring buyers and sellers together to facilitate transactions. Priceline.com leads the way to a unique new type of e-commerce known as a "demand collection system". Priceline.com is the world's first online buying service through which consumers name the price they're willing to pay. Leveraging the unique attributes of the Internet, Priceline.com finds sellers willing to meet buyers' needs and price.
Jay Walker, the founder of Priceline.com, created a new concept and business model. This model shifts the setting of prices from sellers to buyers. The company seeks to use its patented system on products such as airline seats, hotel rooms, gasoline and groceries. Using a simple and persuasive consumer proposition called "Name Your Own Price," Priceline.com collects consumer demands for a product or service at a desired price. Priceline.com reroutes that demand within their own databases or simply directly to participating providers. Priceline.com fulfills customers' offers from inventory provided by participating sellers.
Priceline.com enables sellers to generate extra revenue without disrupting their existing distribution channels or retail pricing structures. In this sense it uses the Internet's communication and information abilities to turn customary retailing upside down; alternatively it opens up to the individual consumer a form of transaction which has previously only been open to corporate entities.
Key Issues
Priceline.com incurred tremendous success in its beginning years. However, the success story has been put on hold in 2000. Priceline.com is now faced with many c ...