1. In an online network-connected computer system of the type that receives requests transmitted over a network from users and responds by providing responsive data over said network for display by said requesting users, a method of performing computer based processes to process online auction-style listings and provide associated responsive data for display, said method comprising: recording a predetermined listing end time for an auction style listing stored in a computer memory; receiving, from users over the network, bids with respect to said auction-style listing; and in response to a determination that the highest bid is less than a reserve price and the reserve price and the highest bid are close within a threshold, prompting at least a seller to issue a direct offer to a user with a highest bid before a listing expiration without revealing the highest bid value to the seller; and prompting the seller to issue direct offers to sell to any bidders after a listing expiration.