Online Marketplace for Moving and Relocation Services

• US 20090187436A1
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Haul International Incorporated (U-Haul Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: U-Haul International Incorporated (U-Haul Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Shoen, Edward J., Shoen, Samuel J., Kestner, John Anthony, Venkataraman, Srinivasan
• Granted Patent: US 8,135,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating an online marketplace for the sale of goods and services associated with self-help moving and relocating are described. A customer enters an online marketplace where vendors offer services and goods relating to moving and relocating, specifically in the “do-it-yourself” moving field. The venue for the online marketplace is an Internet web site or a site on a computer network and is operated by a host that determines which vendors will be listed on the site. Once in the marketplace, the customer can view informational content on numerous vendors providing services relating to moving and relocating. Based on the estimates provided by the marketplace as well as reviews, ratings, customer feedback, and background information on the vendors, the customer selects a vendor and “prepays for” the vendor'"'"'s services on the marketplace. The customer is then provided a confirmation code. The code is given to the vendor upon completion of service or delivery of the good to the customer'"'"'s satisfaction. The vendor accesses the online marketplace and enters the confirmation code to activate a payment for the service or good.

Claims

1. A method of providing services or goods via a computer network marketplace, the method comprising:

enabling a customer in the computer network marketplace to access content regarding a service or good;

processing a transaction for the service or good between the customer and a vendor listed in the marketplace;

accepting a payment from the customer for the service or good;

issuing to the customer a confirmation code associated with the transaction; and

after performance of the service or delivery of the good, activating a payment for the service or good in response to the vendor entering the confirmation code.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the service or good relates to moving or relocating.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes loading or unloading service information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes packing or unpacking service information.

5. A method of claim 1 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes landscaping service information, lawn service information, cleaning service information, painting service information, or garbage removal service information.

6. A method of claim 1 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes hotel reservation information.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising accepting feedback input from the customer relating to the vendor.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising processing the feedback input from the customer and assimilating the feedback input into informational content associated with the vendor.

9. A method of providing services or goods via a computer network marketplace, the method comprising:

enabling a customer in the marketplace to access content regarding a service or good;

processing a transaction for the service or good between the customer and a vendor, wherein the vendor is introduced to the customer via the marketplace;

issuing to the customer a confirmation code associated with the transaction; and

after performance of the service or delivery of the good, activating a payment for the service or good in response to the vendor entering the confirmation code.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the service or good relates to moving or relocating.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes loading or unloading service information.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes packing or unpacking service information.

13. A method of claim 9 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes landscaping service information, lawn service information, cleaning service information, painting service information, or garbage removal service information.

14. A method of claim 9 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes hotel reservation information.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising accepting feedback input from the customer relating to the vendor.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising processing the feedback input from the customer and assimilating the feedback input into informational content associated with the vendor.

17. A computer system for providing services or goods via an online marketplace, the system comprising:

one or more processors;

a computer readable memory accessible by the one or more processors, the computer readable memory storing programming instructions for;

enabling a customer in the marketplace to access content regarding a service or good;

processing a transaction for the service or good between the customer and a vendor listed in the marketplace;

accepting a customer payment for the service or good;

issuing to the customer a confirmation code associated with the transaction; and

after performance of the service or delivery of the good, activating a payment for the service or good in response to the vendor entering the confirmation code.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the service or good relates to moving or relocating.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes loading or unloading service information.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes packing or unpacking service information.

21. A system of claim 17 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes landscaping service information, lawn service information, cleaning service information, painting service information, or garbage removal service information.

22. A system of claim 17 wherein the content regarding the service or good includes hotel reservation information.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the computer readable memory further stores programming instructions for accepting feedback input from the customer relating to the vendor.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer readable memory further stores programming instructions for processing the feedback input from the customer and assimilating the feedback input into informational content associated with the vendor.