SYSTEM TO PROVIDE PRICE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON INDICATED PRODUCT INTEREST

• US 20130268346A1
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Bemer, Keith, Palmer, Timothy A., Sammon, Russell P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history

Abstract

A system to provide price adjustments based on indicated product interest includes reception of an indication from a customer of interest in a first product, reception of an indication from a customer of interest in a second product, determination of a price adjustment for the second product based on the indication of interest in the first product, and transmission of the price adjustment to the customer. By virtue of the foregoing features, a retailer may be willing to provide a price adjustment for the second product which would otherwise not be provided. Moreover, such a price adjustment may incent the customer to purchase the second product in a case that the second product would not otherwise be purchased, thereby potentially increasing a total profit received by the retailer.

Claims

1. A method for selling products, comprising:

receiving an indication of interest of a customer in a first product;

receiving an indication of interest of the customer in a second product, in which the indication of interest in the second product comprises at least one of;

an indication that the customer is located in a retail store, physically near to the second product in the retail store,

an indication that the customer has viewed a representation of the second product for a period of time, and

a selection by the customer of the second product;

determining a price adjustment for the second product based on the indication of interest of the customer in the first product; and

after receiving the indication of interest of the customer in the first product, after receiving the indication of interest of the customer in the second product, and before receiving from the customer a request to purchase the second product, transmitting the price adjustment to the customer;

receiving from the customer a request to purchase the first product and the second product; and

charging the customer for the second product based on the price adjustment.

2. A method comprising:

receiving, at a kiosk in a retail store, an indication of interest of a customer in a first product;

receiving, at the kiosk, an indication of a request by the customer for information regarding a second product, in which the request for information identifies the second product;

determining a price adjustment for the second product based on the indication of interest of the customer in the first product; and

after receiving indication of interest of the customer in the first product, after receiving the indication of the request by the customer for information regarding the second product, and before receiving from the customer a request to purchase the second product, displaying the price adjustment to the customer at the kiosk;

receiving from the customer a request to purchase the first product and the second product; and

charging the customer for the second product based on the price adjustment.

3. A method comprising:

offering a handheld device to a customer at a retail store;

receiving by the handheld device an indication of interest of the customer in a first product in the retail store;

receiving by the handheld device an indication of interest of the customer in a second product in the retail store, in which the indication of interest in the second product comprises one or more of the following;

a request for information regarding the second product, in which the request identifies the second product,

the customer scanning a bar code that is associated with the second product,

an indication that the customer is evaluating the second product in the retail store,

an indication that the customer is physically near the second product in the retail store, and

an indication that the customer is physically near the second product in the retail store for a predetermined amount of time;

determining a price adjustment for the second product based on the indication of interest of the customer in the first product;

displaying the price adjustment to the customer;

receiving from the customer a request to purchase the first product and the second product; and

charging the customer for the second product based on the price adjustment.

4. The method of claim 3, in which displaying comprises:

displaying the price adjustment to the customer via the handheld device.

5. The method of claim 3, in which displaying comprises:

displaying the price adjustment to the customer at a point-of-sale terminal in the retail store.

6. The method of claim 3, in which the handheld device comprises a personal digital assistant.

7. The method of claim 3, in which the handheld device comprises a bar-code scanner.

8. The method of claim 3, in which the indication of interest in the first product comprises the customer accepting the handheld device at the retail store.

9. The method of claim 3, in which the indication of interest in the first product comprises the customer scanning a bar code that is associated with the first product.

10. The method of claim 3, in which the indication of interest in the first product comprises an indication of a location of the customer in the retail store.

11. The method of claim 3, in which the indication of interest in the first product comprises an indication that the customer is evaluating the first product in the retail store.

12. The method of claim 3, in which the indication of interest in the first product comprises an indication that the customer is physically near the first product in the retail store.

13. The method of claim 3, in which the indication of interest in the first product comprises an indication that the customer is physically near the first product in the retail store for a predetermined amount of time.