SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAXIMIZING VALUE THROUGH COLLABORATION AND POOLING OF BUYERS, SELLERS AND PARTIES WITH COMMON INTERESTS

• US 20120029992A1
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pasquale D.E. Facendis
• Original Assignee: Pasquale D.E. Facendis
• Inventors: DE FACENDIS, PASQUALE
• Application Number:
  US13/192,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029992A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation

Abstract

A system and method for enabling buyers and sellers to collaborate within their communities of interest and other social networks to determine similar buying interests, negotiate best pricing and terms in order to realize optimum deal terms, and close their collective best deal (for those buyers that are willing to commit once deal pricing and terms have been presented) in a real-time, dynamic manner analogous to how deals are negotiated in the real world. Further augmenting the current state-of-the-art, buyers are given the opportunity to pool their collective buying requirements from specific sellers for discounts based on volume pricing thereby enabling the purchase of potentially many goods from the sellers instead of being limited to a specific item, or group of items. Sellers are also given the opportunity to advertise and offer their goods for sale through a website, and the system can match-up buyers and sellers with common interests and enable both parties to discuss, negotiate and close their best deal, thereby resulting in a true win-win transaction since both buyer-specific and user interests are explored and satisfied. The invention also enables a portion of deal revenues to be donated to a common cause or charity thereby further motivating users with common interests to pool together, maximize deal volume and value, and drive traffic to the internet-enabled system, with the potential for significantly improving the human condition on a global scale.

Claims

1. A computer network implemented sales method for organizing and completing a dynamic pooled transaction involving at least two buyers and at least one seller, wherein the at least two buyers and at least one seller are each associated with a network-connected communication device, such method comprising the following steps:

enabling a group of buyers including at least two buyers, by operation of a server computer that implements a distribution platform for organizing and completing a dynamic pooled transaction, wherein the server computer communicates with the network-connected communication devices via a wired or wireless communication network, to explore dynamically similar purchase criteria for establishing a buying pool, for approaching at least one seller with a solicitation for the purchase of goods or services;

enabling the group of buyers to invite their contacts to join the buying pool, and communicating one or more data elements associated with the buying pool to other interested buyers associated with the server computer and enabling such other buyers interested in joining the buyer pool to join such buyer pool;

if similar purchase criteria for such buyer pool are satisfied within the required time constraint, enabling the buyer members to connect with the at least one seller to negotiate a quotation for pooled goods or services requirements of such buyer pool;

if one or more other sellers is also available to provide a quotation, enabling such buyer pool members to further connect with such one or more other sellers until quotations from all sellers have been obtained and/or buyer pool closes one or more transactions based on the goods or services;

enabling the group of buyers, and optionally one or more sellers by operation of the server computer to submit rating and comments;

enabling the group of buyers to establish consensus by operation of the server computer around a quotation of a particular seller, or winning seller; and

if a consensus is established within the group of buyers, enabling the group of buyers having reached such consensus to close the one or more transactions based on the goods or services with the winning seller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if a new buyer is interested in participating in the one or more transactions, enabling such new buyer to approach the winning seller to negotiate and close best deal;

such seller pays commission to distribution platform and referring buyer;

when commissions received, buyers, seller and distribution platform submit rating and comments, otherwise re-submit commissions request to seller until such time that commissions request is exhausted at which time buyers, seller and distribution platform submit rating and comments.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sellers can advertise discounts for buyers with similar purchase criteria who are willing to establish buyer pools.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein similar purchase criteria comprises goods and/or services available from a specific seller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein similar purchase criteria comprises a quorum of buyers for deal implementation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein similar purchase criteria comprises a time constraint.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein similar purchase criteria comprises a charity of choice.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing a quorum of buyers for deal planning within similar purchase criteria.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein

when quorum of buyers for deal planning and time constraint is reached, buyers submit purchase requirements via a website;

the server computer aggregates purchase requirements and forwards purchase requirements to seller, seller quotes best pricing and terms;

the server computer returns quotation to buyer pool and buyers evaluate pricing;

if a deal close deadline is reached buyers confirm the one or more transactions but if deal purchase quorum is not reached, the server computer establishes a new deal close deadline and the one or more sellers are given an opportunity to quote again and this repeats until a quorum for closing the one or more transactions is reached;

if one or more other sellers are available to provide quotation, the server computer forwards purchase requirements to the one or more other sellers and this repeats until the buyer pool closes the one or more transactions with the winning seller;

optionally the buyers submit payments, the seller confirms payments, and the buyers and the seller arrange for delivery; and

the seller pays a commission to the operator of the server computer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein

after deal close, if new buyer wishes to join the party group to take advantage of discounts offered by the preferred seller with which said party group completed the prior deal, such new buyer is allowed to join and contact seller to negotiate and close new deal;

should deal not close, new buyers are still given the opportunity to join the party group;

if the new buyer successfully closes a new deal with the seller, seller pays a commission to the distribution platform and referring buyer per previously negotiated terms;

if seller does not pay the required commissions, the computer server re-submits commissions request to seller;

otherwise if commissions are received or after sufficient attempts to re-submit commissions request to seller, buyers, seller and distribution platform rate the deal and other participants, and provide comments.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein buyers and/or sellers contribute a portion of proceeds to charity of choice.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface for real-time negotiation of financial transaction between buyer pool and sellers.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step:

buyers entering location-based preferences via their landline internet connection or mobile device, outlining information such as purchase interests, geographic location, preferred timing for buyer pool collaboration and/or permission criteria to notify such buyer of buyer pool opportunity when such criteria are satisfied;

if these preferences are established via landline internet connection, such preferences are downloaded to buyer'"'"'s mobile client or otherwise if such preferences are entered using mobile device, such preferences are updated to same mobile client;

mobile client checks for a location-based preference match and said mobile client interfaces with computer server to cheek with other mobile clients that match the same preference criteria, and if no match is found, the mobile client continues to check for a location-based preference match;

if a match is found, the mobile client sends a request to a location identification system to confirm mobile device location. Said location identification system then returns the requested information to the mobile client via receipt;

when the required location identification information is received from location identification system, lead buyer enters party invitation, purchase criteria, required quorum of buyers for deal implementation, time constraint, location and charity of choice;

mobile client interfaces with computer server to check profiles of other buyers for matching purchase criteria, timing, location, etc., and interfaces with location identification system to verify location of buyers matching other criteria and forwards buyer pool party invitation to buyers that match such required criteria;

buyers sign-up and send party invitation to their network of contacts via communication mechanism of mobile client of computer server and/or making use of other social media communication mechanisms such as facebook, twitter, rss feeds, etc.;

other interested buyers proceed to sign-up to such party group and in a similar manner invite other possible interested buyers through their network of contacts;

if the required deal quorum of buyers is not reached and the deal deadline is also not reached, buyers in the party group are still given the opportunity to invite possible interested buyers and sellers through their network of contacts. If the deal quorum is not reached and the deal deadline is reached, then the deal does not proceed. If the deal quorum is reached but the deal deadline is not reached per step, buyers in the party group are again given the opportunity to invite possible interested buyers through their network of contacts;

if the required deal quorum of buyers is reached and the time constraint is reached, buyers arrange to meet with seller in person at a mutually convenient time in the near future given their location-based proximity to one another to review their requirements and negotiate their best deal;

the mobile client of computer server enables communication of buyers and sellers through exchange of their contact information via their preferred communication mechanism(s) including but not limited to a meeting location at geographic address, conference calling using traditional telephony, VoIP, e-mail, text messaging, social networking media and/or other means;

upon completion of negotiation of best deal terms per step, buyers in the party group close their best deal with seller, and sellers and/or buyers contribute a portion of the savings earned to their charity of choice;

payment transactions are carried out between buyers and seller on a person-to-person basis using cash, credit and/other established payment methods but other methods of payment which become obvious to those skilled in the art can also be effectively employed;

buyers, seller and distribution platform are given the opportunity to rate the deal and other participants, and provide comments.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of other triggers can also be used to initiate a location-based buyer pool including but not limited to the following:

sellers can advertise pooling discounts and these can be made available via the computer server to mobile version of such client and/or notification to buyers who have indicated a preference to receive such notifications;

a lead buyer may engage seller by walking into their place of business;

a buyer may initiate a buyer pool party via their mobile client;

for text-limited mobile devices, such party can be initiated by entering an appropriate text-based code such as #SAVE for example and in such case, the method would continue with a text-based version of mobile client.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein a franchising model and method is implemented for white labeling bricks-and-mortar pooling depots to facilitate volume deliveries for buyers from manufacturers and OEMs, thereby allowing buyer pools of sufficient critical mass to deal directly with such manufacturers and OEMs, and disrupting the established manufacturer/distributor/sales outlet business model and further increasing the value to buyers through the reduction of price of goods and deal facilitation. The pooling depot would receive a commission from sellers and/or buyers for its role and value-add in facilitating deals and/or deliveries.