What characterizes net marketplaces?

Net marketplaces are characterized by serving as independent intermediaries between buyers and sellers. This model enables them to facilitate transactions across various participants within a marketplace ecosystem. They provide a platform where multiple buyers and sellers can meet and transact, thus enhancing market efficiency through increased competition and broader access to goods and services.

By acting as intermediaries, net marketplaces often help streamline processes, support various transaction types, and leverage collective buying power, which can result in better pricing for consumers. This role distinguishes them from other forms of electronic commerce, which may focus on direct selling or specific contractual arrangements rather than providing a broad, open trading environment.

The other characteristics mentioned refer to different aspects of e-commerce models or organizational strategies that do not fully capture the core function of net marketplaces as independent facilitators in the supply chain.