Method and apparatus for promoting a product

• US 20020133426A1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew S., Tulley, Stephen C., Alderucci, Dean P., Walker, Jay S., Suarez, Jose A.
• Application Number:
  US10/100,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133426A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for establishing online a buyer price for a first plurality of products. The buyer price being lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products, the first plurality of products to be picked up during a subsequent transaction at a retailer. Thereafter, a second plurality of products which the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction is determined. Thereafter, a promotional offer is output during a subsequent interaction with the customer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing online a buyer price for a first plurality of products, the buyer price being lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products, the first plurality of products to be picked up during a subsequent transaction at a retailer;

determining a second plurality of products which the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction;

determining that the second plurality of products includes a product,

determining that the first plurality of products does not include the product; and

outputting a promotional offer during a subsequent interaction with the customer,

in which the promotional offer is based on the product.

2. A method comprising:

establishing online a buyer price for a first plurality of products, the buyer price being lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products, the first plurality of products to be picked up during a subsequent transaction at a retailer;

determining a second plurality of products which the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction;

determining that the second plurality of products includes a product,

determining that the first plurality of products does not include the product, and

determining that the first plurality of products includes a substitute of the product;

determining that the second plurality of products does not include the substitute of the product; and

outputting a promotional offer during a subsequent interaction with the customer,

in which the promotional offer is based on at least one of the product and

the substitute of the product.

3. A method comprising:

establishing online a buyer price for a first plurality of products, the buyer price being lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products, the first plurality of products to be picked up during a subsequent transaction at a retailer;

determining a second plurality of products which the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction;

determining a product which the first plurality of products includes; and

outputting a promotional offer during a subsequent interaction with the customer,

in which the promotional offer is based on the product.

4. A method comprising:

establishing online a buyer price for a first plurality of products, the buyer price being lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products, the first plurality of products to be picked up during a subsequent transaction at a retailer;

determining a second plurality of products which the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction;

determining that the second plurality of products includes a product,

determining that the first plurality of products includes the product; and

outputting a promotional offer during a subsequent interaction with the customer,

in which the promotional offer is based on the product.

5. A method comprising:

establishing online a buyer price for a first plurality of products, the buyer price being lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products, the first plurality of products to be picked up during a subsequent transaction at a retailer;

determining a second plurality of products which the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction;

determining that the second plurality of products does not include any product included in the first plurality of products; and

outputting a promotional offer during a subsequent interaction with the customer.

6. A method comprising:

establishing online a buyer price for a first plurality of products, the buyer price being lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products, the first plurality of products to be picked up during a subsequent transaction at a retailer;

determining a second plurality of products which the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction;

determining a third plurality of products which are included in the second plurality of products, but are not included in the first plurality of products;

determining a value of the third plurality of products; and

outputting a promotional offer during a subsequent interaction with the customer,

in which the promotional offer is based on the third plurality of products.

7. A method comprising:

determining a first plurality of products which a buyer has agreed to purchase in exchange for a rebate;

determining a second plurality of products which the buyer has actually received;

determining a promotional offer based on a difference between the first plurality of products and the second plurality of products; and

outputting the promotional offer during a subsequent interaction with the customer.

8. The method of claim 7, in which

the promotional offer comprises an offer for an additional product.

9. The method of claim 7, in which

the promotional offer comprises an offer for a discount on a product.

10. The method of claim 7, in which:

the promotional offer comprises an offer for a subscription to a product.

11. The method of claim 7, in which

the promotional offer comprises an offer for a subscription to a product.

12. The method of claim 7, in which the step of determining a promotional offer comprises:

selecting the promotional offer from a plurality of promotional offers based on the difference between the first plurality of products and the second plurality of products.

13. The method of claim 7, in which the step of determining a promotional offer comprises:

generating the promotional offer based on the difference between the first plurality of products and the second plurality of products.

14. The method of claim 7, in which the step of determining a promotional offer comprises:

retrieving a promotional offer from a storage medium.