Method of selling and activating consumer products and services

• US 20050246233A1
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Hershberger, Michael Nyle, Kline, Jared Bernard, Miller, Christopher Steven, Estruth, Nathan Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,374,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

A business method for products and services. The business model provides for retail purchase of a product or service. The product or service is then transported from the retail point of purchase to a professional. The professional then activates the product or service for the consumer.

Claims

1. A method of making a consumer product or service usable, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a consumer product or service at a retail outlet;

making said product or service available for purchase by a consumer; and

providing instructions with said product or service, said instructions directing the consumer to transport said product or service to a professional for activation of said product or service.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said instructions further comprise guidance as to which professional should be utilized for activation.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of providing a consumer product or service at a retail outlet comprises the step of providing a consumer product or service which is unusable by the consumer as purchased and only becomes usable upon activation by the professional.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said step of making a product or service available for purchase by a consumer comprises the step of making multiple components of said product or service available for purchase by the consumer, wherein the consumer separately purchases a plurality of components necessary in combination to activate said product or service.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein said consumer purchases said multiple components of said product or service at two different locations, at least one said location being a retail outlet.

6. A method of making a consumer product or service available for use by a consumer, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a consumer product or service at a retail outlet;

purchasing said product or service from said retail outlet;

providing a professional to professionally activate said product or service;

bringing said product or service and said professional together at a common location; and

professionally activating said product or service for subsequent use by the consumer.

7. A method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of providing instructions associated with said product or service, wherein said instructions provide guidance on said professional activation.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said consumer takes said product or service from said retail outlet where purchases to a remote location for said professional activation.

14. A method according to claim 6 wherein said product or service is sold at a retail price and further comprising the step of incorporating or subsidizing at least a portion of the fee for the professional activation in said retail price.

9. A method of providing a medical product for consumer use, said method comprising the steps of providing a medical product for purchase by a consumer at a retail outlet, said product being incapable of use upon purchase by the consumer, taking said product from said retail outlet to a professional for activation by the professional;

and professionally activating said product to render said product usable for its intended purpose.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said step of providing said product comprises the step of providing a medical product.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein said step of providing said product comprises the step of providing a product usable for identification of a pet, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a product at a retail outlet, wherein said product comprises an RFID;

purchasing said RFID chip from said retail outlet;

taking said RFID chip and said pet to a veterinarian;

implanting said RFID chip into said pet by said veterinarian; and

activating said RFID chip to provide information about said pet therein.

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of scanning said pet to determine information regarding said pet from said RFID chip.

13. A method according to claim 11 comprising the step of providing a selection of a plurality of RFID chips at said retail outlet.