An electronic auction system may include a bid validator connected between a network, a bid database and a merchandise catalog page. The example bid validator may receive over the network, bid information via an electronic mail message and further bid information via a web-based bid form. The example bid validator may validate the bid information and the further bid information before placing a bid and a further bid respectively into the bid database. The example bid validator may then update the web-based merchandise catalog page based on the bid and the further bid.