System and method of maintaining a posted street price for fuel while offering different prices to identified customers
First Claim
1. A method of providing multiple level discounts on a first product to a customer who purchases at least one cross-marketed product, said method comprising the steps of:
- awarding a first discount on the first product to the customer based on a purchase by the customer of a first cross-marketed product;
awarding a second discount on the first product to the customer based on a purchase by the customer of a second cross-marketed product;
adding the first discount to the second discount to determine a total discount on the first product; and
awarding the total discount to the customer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of providing multiple level, price-per-unit (PPU) discounts on gasoline to a customer who purchases at least one cross-marketed product. The customer is awarded a first PPU discount on the gasoline based on a purchase by the customer of a first cross-marketed product, and is awarded a second PPU discount based on the purchase of a second cross-marketed product. The first discount is then added to the second discount to determine a total PPU discount, and a paper receipt is printed for the customer with a customer identification and a transaction identification encoded in a bar code thereon. The total discount is stored in a discounts issued database. The customer then scans the encoded bar code with a bar code scanner at a gasoline dispenser to redeem the discount. The total discount is retrieved from the discounts issued database, and the gasoline station then reduces the price-per-unit-volume of the gasoline by an amount equal to the total discount. When the customer completes the gasoline purchase, a value of the total discount redeemed is determined and stored in a discounts redeemed database. Portions of the discount redeemed are then allocated to vendors of the first and second cross-marketed products according to predetermined criteria.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing multiple level discounts on a first product to a customer who purchases at least one cross-marketed product, said method comprising the steps of:
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awarding a first discount on the first product to the customer based on a purchase by the customer of a first cross-marketed product;
awarding a second discount on the first product to the customer based on a purchase by the customer of a second cross-marketed product;
adding the first discount to the second discount to determine a total discount on the first product; and
awarding the total discount to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of providing a discount on a first product to a customer who purchases at least one cross-marketed product, said method comprising the steps of:
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awarding a first discount on the first product to the customer based on a purchase by the customer of a first cross-marketed product;
issuing a coupon to the customer, said coupon providing a customer identification and a transaction identification;
storing a discount amount in a discounts issued database which associates the discount amount with the customer identification and the transaction identification;
inputting by the customer in a subsequent transaction, the customer identification and the transaction identification;
retrieving the discount amount from the discounts issued database; and
reducing the price of the first product by the discount amount. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of providing multiple level discounts on gasoline to a customer who purchases at least one cross-marketed product, said method comprising the steps of:
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awarding to the customer, a first discount on the price-per-unit-volume of the gasoline based on a purchase by the customer of a first cross-marketed product;
awarding to the customer, a second discount on the price-per-unit-volume of the gasoline based on a purchase by the customer of a second cross-marketed product;
adding the first discount to the second discount to determine a total discount on the price-per-unit-volume of the gasoline;
printing a paper receipt for the customer with a customer identification and a discount identification encoded in a bar code thereon;
storing the total discount in a discounts issued database;
storing, in the discounts issued database, a maximum number of gallons to which the discount applies;
storing, in the discounts issued database, a minimum purchase of gasoline required in order to qualify for the discount;
scanning the encoded bar code with a bar code scanner at a gasoline dispenser;
verifying the discount scanned from the bar code by comparing the scanned discount with the stored discount in the discounts issued database;
reducing, by the gasoline station, the price-per-unit-volume of the gasoline by an amount equal to the total discount;
determining a value of the total discount redeemed;
verifying that the value of the total discount redeemed is less than or equal to the maximum discount allowed;
verifying that the amount of gasoline purchased is greater than or equal to the minimum purchase required to qualify for the discount;
storing the value of the discount redeemed in a discounts redeemed database; and
allocating portions of the discount redeemed to vendors of the first and second cross-marketed products according to predetermined criteria.
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17. A method of providing a price-per-unit-volume discount on gasoline to a customer who purchases a cross-marketed product in a sales transaction, said method comprising the steps of:
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awarding the price-per-unit-volume discount to the customer based on a purchase by the customer of a cross-marketed product;
issuing an electronic coupon to the customer, said coupon identifying the customer and the sales transaction;
storing the price-per-unit-volume discount in a discounts issued database which associates the discount with the customer and sales transaction;
storing, in the discounts issued database, a maximum number of volume units of gasoline to which the discount is applied;
storing, in the discounts issued database, a minimum purchase of gasoline required in order to qualify for the discount;
beginning a sales transaction by entering a customer identification and a transaction identification at a gasoline dispenser at a gas station;
retrieving the price-per-unit-volume discount from the discounts issued database;
reducing, by the gasoline station, the price-per-unit-volume of the gasoline by an amount equal to the discount;
determining a value of the total discount redeemed;
verifying that the value of the total discount redeemed is less than or equal to the maximum discount allowed;
verifying that the amount of gasoline purchased is greater than or equal to the minimum purchase required to qualify for the discount; and
storing the value of the discount redeemed in a discounts redeemed database. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification