System for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption

• US 8,533,039 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Enpulz LLC
• Inventors: Winslade, Christopher C., Bennett, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Retta, Yehdega
• Application Number:
  US09/687,499
• Time in Patent Office: 4,715 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/64, 705/14.1, 705/14.34, 705/14.39
• US Class Current: 705/14.39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and system for online sales providing automatic rebate and coupon redemption corresponding to online purchases. Purchase orders from customers may be fulfilled and the products shipped to customers by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption. The system may provide customers with the ability to make online purchases using applicable coupons and rebates from merchants or manufacturers thereby passing the savings on to the customer. The system may also automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for use during an online purchasing activity for items in a shopping cart during a shopping activity.

Claims

1. A method of processing a promotion from a first party, the first party having a first system, the method comprising:

offering, by a second system of a second party, an item for sale online at a sales price amount, the item for sale having associated with it, by the second system of the second party, a promotion from the first party, the promotion having a promotion amount, wherein the second system is distinct from the first system and the second party is distinct from the first party;

receiving, by the second system, an online purchase request from a buyer for the item for sale;

responding, by the second system, to the online purchase request by collecting from the buyer a purchase amount corresponding to the sales price amount less the promotion amount; and

causing, by the second system, shipment by the second party of the item for sale to the buyer.

2. A method of processing a promotion for a first party, the first party having a first system, the method comprising:

offering, by a second system of a second party, an item for sale online, wherein the item has been acquired by the second party from the first party, the item for sale having associated with it a promotion from the first party, the promotion having a promotion amount, wherein the second system is distinct from the first system and the second party is distinct from the first party;

receiving, by the second system, an online purchase request from a buyer for the item for sale;

responding, by the second system, to the online purchase request by collecting from the buyer a purchase amount corresponding to a sales price amount less the promotion amount; and

collecting, by the second system, a service fee associated with the online purchase request.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the service fee is collected from the buyer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a first amount is defined by the sales price less the promotion amount, and the purchase amount collected from the buyer equals the first amount plus the service fee.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the service fee is collected from the first party.