LOYALTY REWARDS FOR PURCHASING

• US 20090319362A1
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IAMS Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IAMS Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dashnaw, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/143,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20090319362A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.340
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase

Abstract

A method of rewarding consumers for the purchase of companion animal products is provided. The method can include providing a pet product for purchase, providing a procedure whereby a purchaser can identify the purchase of the product, providing a rebate to the purchaser, whereby the rebate is usable for a discount on a pet product or service. In one embodiment, the discount is usable for a discount on pet insurance.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a pet food for purchase by a purchaser, wherein the pet food is manufactured by a manufacturer and sold to the purchaser by a retailer;

providing a procedure whereby the purchaser can report a purchase of the pet food;

receiving a report of a reported purchase;

determining whether the reported purchase is valid;

determining whether the reported purchase meets a threshold requirement, wherein the threshold requirement comprises a minimum number of valid purchases by the purchaser;

providing a rebate to the purchaser after determining whether the reported purchase is valid and determining whether the reported purchase meets a threshold requirement;

wherein the rebate is in the form of a financial discount for use with a pet benefits provider.

2. The method of claim 1 and wherein the pet benefits provider is selected from the group consisting of a pet insurance company, a veterinarian, and a pet products retailer.

3. The method of claim 1 and wherein the pet benefits provider is a pet insurance company.

4. The method of claim 3 and wherein providing the rebate comprises sending to the purchaser a financial discount for use with a pet benefits provider.

5. The method of claim 1 and wherein the pet benefits provider is a pet insurance company and wherein the rebate is a discount on pet insurance.

6. A method of improving a pet'"'"'s health, the method comprising:

(a) providing a pet food within a package;

(b) providing a procedure whereby a purchaser of the pet food is able to identify the purchase of the pet food to one of a manufacturer or a retailer of the pet food;

(c) providing a rebate to the consumer after the purchaser identifies itself to the manufacturer;

wherein the rebate is usable as a discount with a provider of pet benefits.

7. The method of claim 6 and wherein the pet is selected from the group consisting of a dog, a cat, and a horse.

8. The method of claim 6 and wherein the procedure is in the form of sending in a proof of purchase of the pet food.

9. The method of claim 8 and wherein a minimum number of proofs of purchase must be attained before the step of providing a rebate to the consumer occurs.

10. The method of claim 6 and wherein the procedure is in the form of inputting information from the package into a website so that identification of the purchase can be made.

11. The method of claim 6 and wherein the procedure is in the form of a loyalty program card.

12. The method of claim 6 and wherein the provider of pet benefits is selected from the group consisting of a pet insurance company, a veterinarian, and a pet products retailer.

13. The method of claim 6 and wherein the rebate is in the form of a discount on pet insurance redeemable by the purchaser.

14. The method of claim 6 and wherein the rebate is in the form of a discount on a veterinarian visit.

15. The method of claim 14 and wherein the discount is for a wellness checkup.

16. The method of claim 14 and wherein the discount is for a veterinarian medical procedure.

17. The method of claim 6 and wherein the discount is for use at a pet products retailer.

18. The method of claim 6 and wherein the rebate is in the form of a discount for a pharmaceutical for the pet.

19. A method comprising:

(a) providing a recommendation to a consumer, whereby the recommendation comprises informing the consumer of a pet food to purchase;

(b) validating that the consumer made a purchase based on the recommendation;

(c) providing a financial discount to the consumer.

20. The method of claim 19 and wherein the financial discount comprises a financial discount on pet insurance.