Retail rebate card
First Claim
1. A method of providing a customer rebate to a customer, the customer purchasing a product from a retailer in a purchase transaction having a time of purchase and a purchase location, the product being manufactured by a manufacturer and associated with a manufacturer rebate, the method being carried out by an administrator, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving purchase data from the retailer, the purchase data including a product identity;
claiming the manufacturer rebate from the manufacturer; and
providing an administrator rebate, the administrator rebate being used to finance the customer rebate to the customer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for providing a customer rebate following purchase of a product includes an administrator receiving purchase data from the retailer, the administrator then claiming the manufacturer rebate from the manufacturer. The administrator provides an administrator rebate to finance the customer rebate, which is given to the customer before the customer leaves the retailer. The customer can then use the customer rebate to purchase other items at the store, allowing the customer to receive the customer rebate substantially at the time of purchase.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of providing a customer rebate to a customer, the customer purchasing a product from a retailer in a purchase transaction having a time of purchase and a purchase location, the product being manufactured by a manufacturer and associated with a manufacturer rebate, the method being carried out by an administrator, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving purchase data from the retailer, the purchase data including a product identity;
claiming the manufacturer rebate from the manufacturer; and
providing an administrator rebate, the administrator rebate being used to finance the customer rebate to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing a customer rebate to a customer, the customer purchasing a product from a retailer in a purchase transaction having a time of purchase and a purchase location, the product being manufactured by a manufacturer and associated with a manufacturer rebate, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting purchase data to an administrator, the purchase data including a product identity;
receiving an administrator rebate from the administrator substantially at the time of purchase; and
providing a rebate card to the customer, the rebate card allowing the customer to make an additional purchase at the retailer, the rebate card providing the customer rebate. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for providing a customer rebate to a customer, the customer having a customer identity, the customer purchasing a product from a retailer in a purchase transaction, the product being manufactured by a manufacturer and associated with a manufacturer rebate, the customer rebate being financed by an administrator having an administrator computer, the apparatus comprising:
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a data input mechanism receiving purchase data related to the purchase transaction, the purchase data including the product identity;
a data transceiver in communication with the administrator computer, receiving purchase data from the data input mechanism, transmitting the purchase data to the administrator computer, and receiving a rebate authorization from the administrator computer; and
a card controller, receiving a rebate authorization signal from the data transceiver, and providing the customer with a rebate card, the rebate card providing the customer rebate. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification