System and method for conducting sales

• US 8,458,022 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netstartups LLC
• Original Assignee: Joseph Bous
• Inventors: Bous, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamilton, Matthew L
• Application Number:
  US13/477,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20120232979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for conducting sales. The method embodiment comprises receiving an inquiry with at least one parameter from a user associated with a sale of an item, identifying one or more discount items that satisfy the inquiry, identifying comparable items for each discount item at nondiscount rates dynamically using real-time data, presenting one or more comparable groups to the user, each comparable group comprising one discount item and the respective comparable items, and furthering the sales process based on user input responding to the presented one or more comparable groups. Also disclosed is a method further comprising receiving a request from the user for multiple sub-items associated with the item, and engaging in a dialog with the user to enable payment for each of the multiple sub-items with one of a multiple payment types.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by a processor, a first item associated with a purchase inquiry, wherein the first item is available at a discount price;

identifying a second item associated with the purchase inquiry, wherein the second item is comparable to the first item and is not available at the discount price;

displaying a semi-opaque offer comprising the first item, the second item, and the discount price, wherein the semi-opaque offer does not identify which of the first item and the second item is available for sale in the semi-opaque offer;

receiving, by the processor, a commitment from a user to purchase an item based on the semi-opaque offer; and

disclosing the first item as the item actually purchased after receiving the commitment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the semi-opaque offer is displayed via at least one of a computer terminal, a web interface, a phone interface, an interactive voice response system, a portable computing device, and a call center.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first item and the second item comprises at least one of a product and a service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the semi-opaque offer further comprises a quote of a non-discount price for at least one of the first item and the second item.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising disclosing the first item after a predetermined time after receiving the commitment.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a second commitment to purchase sub-items associated with the first item.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising allowing payment of the sub-items through an alternative payment option that is different than a payment option used for the first item.

8. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising;

identifying a first item associated with a purchase inquiry, wherein the first item is available at a discount price;

identifying a second item associated with the purchase inquiry, wherein the second item is comparable to the first item and is not available at the discount price;

displaying a semi-opaque offer comprising the first item, the second item, and the discount price, wherein the semi-opaque offer does not identify which of the first item and the second item is available for sale in the semi-opaque offer;

receiving a commitment from a user to purchase an item based on the semi-opaque offer; and

disclosing the first item as the item actually purchased after receiving the commitment.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the semi-opaque offer is displayed via at least one of a computer terminal, a web interface, a phone interface, an interactive voice response system, a portable computing device, and a call center.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the first item and the second item comprises at least one of a product and a service.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the semi-opaque offer further comprises a quote of a non-discount price for at least one of the first item and the second item.

12. The system of claim 8, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in the method further comprising disclosing the first item after a predetermined time after receiving the commitment.

13. The system of claim 8, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in the method further comprising receiving a second commitment to purchase sub-items associated with the first item.

14. The system of claim 13, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in the method further comprising allowing payment of the sub-items through an alternative payment option that is different than a payment option used for the first item.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

identifying a first item associated with a purchase inquiry, wherein the first item is available at a discount price;

identifying a second item associated with the purchase inquiry, wherein the second item is comparable to the first item and is not available at the discount price;

displaying a semi-opaque offer comprising the first item, the second item, and the discount price, wherein the semi-opaque offer does not identify which of the first item and the second item is available for sale in the semi-opaque offer;

receiving a commitment from a user to purchase an item based on the semi-opaque offer; and

disclosing the first item as the item actually purchased after receiving the commitment.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the semi-opaque offer is displayed via at least one of a computer terminal, a web interface, a phone interface, an interactive voice response system, a portable computing device, and a call center.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein each of the first item and the second item comprises at least one of a product and a service.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the semi-opaque offer further comprises a quote of a non-discount price for at least one of the first item and the second item.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in the method further comprising disclosing the first item after a predetermined time after receiving the commitment.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in the method further comprising receiving a second commitment to purchase sub-items associated with the first item.