Method for increasing sales of vehicles at an automobile dealership using a hand held scanner and a data base link

• US 20060229981A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Emerson Crites
• Original Assignee: Michael Emerson Crites
• Inventors: Crites, Michael Emerson
• Granted Patent: US 7,529,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

This invention allows a customer to use a handheld PDA device to recognize the vehicle identification number of a vehicle for sale at a dealership'"'"'s lot. The PDA then transmits over a wireless local area network the chosen vehicle identification number to a host computer server which accesses hosted database tables containing the vehicle sales price information, normal financing rate and term information, the manufacturer'"'"'s incentives applicable to that vehicle including cash rebates and low APR offers, and the personal customer information necessary for calculating that customer'"'"'s monthly payment estimate. Several different methods of calculation as necessary are performed, and the preferred estimate amount, typically the lowest payment estimate, is transmitted back to the PDA for display to the customer. In the event of a net cash sale, the net price after all applicable rebates, coupons, discounts, and incentives is transmitted to the PDA rather than a payment estimate.

Claims

1. A method for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment at a motor vehicle dealership comprising of the steps

a) recognizing the vehicle identification number or other unique identifier of a motor vehicle

b) accessing price, finance, and incentive data particular to said motor vehicle

c) calculating a preferred payment estimate particular to said customer'"'"'s unique financial information

d) displaying said payment estimate to the customer.

3. A method for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 1 wherein a customer'"'"'s net sales price after the benefit of rebates, coupons, incentives and discounts is calculated.

4. A method for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 1 wherein a handheld PDA or similar device is used to

a) recognize the vehicle identification number of a vehicle for sale at a dealership'"'"'s lot

b) transmit over a wireless local area network said vehicle identification number to a host computer server

c) access hosted data tables that contain vehicle sales price information

normal financing rates and term information manufacturer'"'"'s incentives personal customer information

d) calculate said customer'"'"'s monthly payment estimate by all methods available

e) compare said different methods results and select preferred estimate

f) display the preferred estimate to said customer.

5. A method for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 1 wherein a dealership provides payment estimates for a customer as he browses said dealership'"'"'s sales lot.

6. A method for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 1 wherein a dealership may revise the net sales price displayed for new vehicles on said dealerships sales lot when manufacturer'"'"'s incentives change.

7. A method for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 1 wherein a dealership may use a customer'"'"'s own credit union or outside source financing rates and terms information and still provide automatic payment estimates to said customer for vehicles for sale on said dealership'"'"'s lot.

8. A method for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 1 wherein a customer may observe the differences in his expected monthly payment estimate while comparing new vehicles, used vehicles, cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles on a dealership'"'"'s lot.

2. A means for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment at a motor vehicle dealership comprising of the steps

a) recognizing the vehicle identification number or other unique identifier of a motor vehicle

b) accessing price, finance, and incentive data particular to said motor vehicle

c) calculating a preferred payment estimate particular to said customer'"'"'s unique financial information

d) displaying said payment estimate to the customer.

9. A means for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 2 wherein a customer'"'"'s net sales price after the benefit of rebates, coupons, incentives and discounts is calculated.

10. A means for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 2 wherein a handheld PDA or similar device is used to

a) recognize the vehicle identification number of a vehicle for sale at a dealership'"'"'s lot

b) transmit over a wireless local area network said vehicle identification number to a host computer server

c) access hosted data tables that contain vehicle sales price information

normal financing rates and term information manufacturer'"'"'s incentives personal customer information

d) calculate said customer'"'"'s monthly payment estimate by all methods available

e) compare said different methods results and select preferred estimate

f) display the preferred estimate to said customer.

11. A means for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 2 wherein a dealership provides payment estimates for a customer as he browses said dealership'"'"'s sales lot.

12. A means for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 2 wherein a dealership may revise the net sales price displayed for new vehicles on said dealerships sales lot when manufacturer'"'"'s incentives change.

13. A means for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 2 wherein a dealership may use a customer'"'"'s own credit union or outside source financing rates and terms information and still provide automatic payment estimates to said customer for vehicles for sale on said dealership'"'"'s lot.

14. A means for estimating a customer'"'"'s payment of claim 2 wherein a customer may observe the differences in his expected monthly payment estimate while comparing new vehicles, used vehicles, cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles on a dealership'"'"'s lot.