Method for distributing a periodical

• US 6,535,857 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1999
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magazines.com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magazines.com Incorporated
• Inventors: Clarke, James O. III, Crook, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRAMER, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US09/436,860
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/26, 705/28, 705/29, 705/16
• US Class Current: 705/28
• 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 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/40 for devices for accepting orders, advertisements, or the like

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for distributing early issues of a periodical subscription to a consumer. Broadly, the method involves a redirection of periodicals from a retail point of sale to a consumer, during an interim period from a time when a subscription request is made and conventional delivery of the subscription begins. In accordance with one aspect of the invention a consumer places an order for a subscription to a periodical, which is to be delivered to the consumer. Then, a subscription agent or other entity determines when the subscription (by conventional delivery mechanisms) will start being delivered to the consumer (i.e., which issue will be the first issue received by the consumer). Then, interim issues are redirected from a retail point of sale to the consumer premises. In one distribution method, a wholesale distributor may redirect unsold periodicals from a retail point of sale to a consumer premises. More particularly, unsold issues of a periodical that are normally retrieved by a wholesale distributor and delivered to a shredder/recycler, may be mailed or otherwise distributed to a consumer until the consumer begins to receive the subscription through conventional distribution mechanisms.

Claims

1. A method for fulfilling a periodical subscription to a consumer comprising the steps of:

placing a subscription with a subscription agent for a periodical to be delivered to the consumer at a consumer premise;

communicating the subscription information from the subscription agent to a fulfillment house;

obtaining information as to when regular delivery of the periodical to the consumer premises is to begin; and

redirecting interim issues of the periodical from a retail point of sale to the consumer after paying for the subscription.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the interim issues of the periodical are distributed to the consumer at a subscription price.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of placing a subscription includes the steps of filling out a subscription card and directing the subscription card to the subscription agent.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein the step of directing the subscription card to the subscription agent included directing the subscription card through a cashier and on to the subscription agent.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of placing a subscription includes the step of directing an order request to a subscription agent.

6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the step of directing the order request to the subscription agent includes the steps of filling out information and submitting the information to the subscription agent over a computer network.

7. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the step of directing the order request to the subscription agent includes the step of providing information to the subscription agent over a telephone.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of redirecting the copy of the periodical includes the step of directing a copy of the periodical from a wholesale distributor to a subscription agent for delivery to the consumer premise.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of redirecting the copy of the periodical includes the mailing at least one coupon to the consumer, wherein the at least one coupon allows the consumer to pickup the periodical at a retail point of sale.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of mailing at least one coupon to the consumer more specifically includes mailing the at least one coupon from a subscription agent.

11. A method for fulfilling a periodical subscription to a consumer, the improvement comprising the step of redirecting at least one copy of the periodical from a retail point of sale to a consumer premise after paying for the subscription, wherein the step of redirecting the copy of the periodical includes performing a step selected from the group consisting of:

directing a copy of the periodical from a wholesale distributor to a subscription agent for delivery to the consumer premise, mailing at least one coupon to the consumer, wherein the at least one coupon allows the consumer to pickup the periodical at a retail point of sale, and mailing at least one coupon from a subscription agent to the consumer.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the step of redirecting the copy of the periodical more specifically includes redirecting a copy of the periodical after the consumer places a subscription order, but before a subscription issues of the periodical begin being mailed from a printer to the consumer.

13. A method for initiating a periodical subscription for a consumer comprising the steps of:

providing subscription information at a first retail point of sale;

paying for the subscription at the first retail point of sale;

obtaining information as to when regular delivery of the periodical to the consumer premises is to begin;

communicating the subscription information to a fulfillment house; and

redirecting at least one tissue of the periodical from a second retail point of sale to the consumer after paying for the subscription.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of providing subscription information at the retail point of sale includes providing information to a cashier.

15. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the first retail point of sale and the second retail point of sale are the same location.

16. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the first retail point of sale and the second retail point of sale are different locations.

17. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of providing subscription information at the first retail point of sale includes the steps of providing information to a kiosk.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, further including the step of receiving a coupon from the kiosk and presenting the coupon to a cashier for payment.

19. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the step of paying for the subscription includes, the step of authorizing payment through the kiosk.

20. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of paying for the subscription includes paying cash to a cashier.

21. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of paying for the subscription includes the step of paying a discounted, subscription rate for a copy of the periodical purchased at the first retail point of sale.

22. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of redirecting at least one subsequent issue of the periodical further includes redirecting all interim issues of the periodical between a current issue when the subscription information is provided at the first retail point of sale and when regular delivery of the periodical to the consumer premises is to begin.

23. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of communicating the subscription information to a fulfillment house includes communicating the subscription information through a subscription agent.

24. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of redirecting the copy of the periodical includes the step of directing a copy of the periodical from a wholesale distributor to a subscription agent for delivery to the consumer premise.

25. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of redirecting the copy of the periodical includes mailing at least one coupon from a subscription agent to the consumer, wherein the at least one coupon allows the consumer to pick up the periodical at a retail point of sale.