Method for distributing a periodical
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for fulfilling a periodical subscription to a consumer comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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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.
- View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for initiating a periodical subscription for a consumer comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification