The present invention enables the purchase of perishable objects by ascertaining and attaching a value to the certainty that the perishable object will be available and adjusting the value of the product or service for purchasers willing to pay the discounted value on the condition that the perishable object may not be available at the time of expiration. Rather than paying the certainty value, the prospective purchaser is given the opportunity to enroll in a pool for the perishable object. At a certain time the perishable is released to the pool of purchasers, who are then selected to purchase the item.