SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONLINE VEHICLE SALES

• US 20170098262A1
• Filed: 10/04/2016
• Published: 04/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: The Reynolds and Reynolds Company
• Original Assignee: The Reynolds and Reynolds Company
• Inventors: BROCKMAN, Robert
• Application Number:
  US15/285,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20170098262A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A method for online purchase of a vehicle from a retailer may include specifying a specific vehicle to an online sales computer system, the online sales computer system having an online sales process server. The method may also include estimating a payment range for the specific vehicle for a potential customer by the online sales process server and receiving at the online sales computer system a soft-pull credit report of the potential customer. In addition, the method may include determining financing options for the potential customer from information derived from the soft-pull credit report with the online sales process server and generating a deal summary using the online sales computer system. The method may include receiving an acceptance of the deal summary at the online sales computer system and accepting a deposit for the specific vehicle by the online sales computer system.

Claims

1. A method for online purchase of a vehicle from a retailer comprising:

specifying a specific vehicle to an online sales computer system, the online sales computer system having an online sales process server;

estimating a payment range for the specific vehicle for a potential customer by the online sales process server;

receiving at the online sales computer system a soft-pull credit report of the potential customer;

determining financing options for the potential customer from information derived from the soft-pull credit report with the online sales process server;

generating a deal summary using the online sales computer system;

receiving an acceptance of the deal summary at the online sales computer system; and

accepting a deposit for the specific vehicle by the online sales computer system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving log-in information or new account information from a potential customer at the online sales computer system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the log-in information or new account information includes the customer name, phone number, and e-mail address.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising after the step of specifying a specific vehicle:

displaying an image of the specific vehicle or a basic vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising after the step of specifying a specific vehicle:

displaying a published price of the specific vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising after the step of displaying a published price:

adjusting the published price of the specific vehicle by the online sales process server based on incentives, rebates, or other price adjustments to determine an adjusted price; and

displaying the adjusted price.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising after the step of specifying a specific vehicle:

estimating a trade-in value for a potential customer'"'"'s trade-in with the online sales process server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of estimating a trade-in value further comprises accessing trade-in values from a trade-in value database using the online sales process server to determine an estimated trade-in value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of estimating a trade-in value further comprises displaying the estimated trade-in value.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising after the step of estimating a trade-in value:

receiving a guaranteed trade-in value database for the trade-in of the potential customer; and

presenting a guaranteed trade-in value for the trade-in of the potential customer.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising after the step of determining financing options for the potential customer:

presenting financing options to the potential customer.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising after the step of specifying a specific vehicle to an online sales computer system:

specifying an accessory to be added to the specific vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising after the step of specifying an accessory:

specifying a vehicle package.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising after the step of specifying a specific vehicle to an online sales computer system:

applying for credit online.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the deposit is an online deposit.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

accepting the deposit.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising after accepting the deposit:

placing a hold on the specific vehicle on the online sales computer system.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising after receiving an acceptance of the deal summary:

scheduling online a delivery appointment for the specific vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

providing deal forms online to a potential customer.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising after scheduling online a delivery appointment:

delivering the specific vehicle.

21. A method for online purchase of a vehicle from a retailer comprising:

specifying a specific vehicle to an online sales computer system, the online sales computer system having an online sales process server;

determining that the specific vehicle will be purchased with cash at the online sales process server;

generating a deal summary using the online sales computer system;

receiving an acceptance of the deal summary at the online sales computer system; and

accepting a deposit for the specific vehicle by the online sales computer system.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising after the step of specifying a specific vehicle:

displaying an image of the specific vehicle or a basic vehicle.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising after the step of specifying a specific vehicle:

displaying a published price of the specific vehicle.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising after the step of displaying a published price:

adjusting the published price of the specific vehicle by the online sales process server based on incentives, rebates, or other price adjustments to determine an adjusted price; and

displaying the adjusted price.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising after the step of specifying a specific vehicle:

estimating a trade-in value for a potential customer'"'"'s trade-in with the online sales process server.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of estimating a trade-in value further comprises accessing trade-in values from a trade-in value database using the online sales process server to determine an estimated trade-in value.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of estimating a trade-in value further comprises displaying the estimated trade-in value.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising after the step of estimating a trade-in value:

receiving a guaranteed trade-in value database for the trade-in of the potential customer; and

presenting a guaranteed trade-in value for the trade-in of the potential customer.

29. The method of claim 21 further comprising after the step of specifying a specific vehicle to an online sales computer system:

specifying an accessory to be added to the specific vehicle.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising after the step of specifying an accessory:

specifying a vehicle package.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the deposit is an online deposit.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

accepting the deposit.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising after accepting the deposit:

placing a hold on the specific vehicle on the online sales computer system.

34. The method of claim 21 further comprising after receiving an acceptance of the deal summary:

scheduling online a delivery appointment for the specific vehicle.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

providing deal forms online to a potential customer.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising after scheduling online a delivery appointment:

delivering the specific vehicle.