Each posting on AppointmentTrader shows you which user submitted it and along with that provides a trackrecord of that user which indicates how much experience the user has and how many percent of their transactions resulted in them issuing a refund.

If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.

Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Protégé Palo Alto at 6 PM the same day.

He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Protégé Palo Alto page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.

That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.

Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.

Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.

2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* BraveCloth47, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's $200 bid.
* BraveCloth47 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to BraveCloth47 for any questions Peter may have as BraveCloth47 user fills the bid.

3.) Finding the Reservation
* BraveCloth47 now uses their connections at Protégé Palo Alto to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If BraveCloth47 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.

4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, BraveCloth47 receives the $200 reward which is credited to BraveCloth47's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Protégé Palo Alto!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.