eBay has plans to launch a feature to allow buyers to make an offer on an item for sale on eBay. AuctionBytes had reported on a similar but more fully featured service in September from a company called Yldfire, which stopped offering its Make an Offer service on eBay at its request (http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y04/m09/i28/s02).

eBay's forthcoming "Best Offer" feature, not yet announced, is optional for sellers to include on fixed-price, non-Store items. A potential buyer can send the seller an offer for a specific price for a limited time. An acceptance by the seller is treated as a Buy It Now purchase.