Purchasing, redemption and settlement systems and methods wherein a buyer takes possession at a retailer of a product purchased using a communication network

Abstract

Purchasing, redemption and settlement systems and methods are provided wherein a buyer takes possession of a product at a retailer. A purchasing system may communicate with a buyer through a communication network to establish a first price for a product between the buyer and a seller. The purchasing system may also arrange for the buyer to take possession of the product at a retailer, different from the seller, that offers the product for sale at a second price. Verification information, which enables the retailer to authorize the buyer to take possession of the product, is transmitted to the retailer. The buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system in exchange for the right to take possession of the product at the retailer. In one embodiment, the purchasing system receives a buyer offer, including an offer price, related to the product. In another embodiment, the purchasing system transmits redemption information, including a redemption code, to the buyer. The redemption information may also include information that enables the creation of a voucher to be used when taking possession of the product. The purchasing system may also receive information related to an attempt by the buyer to take possession of the product, including the redemption code, from the retailer.

Description

[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of the following U.S. Patent Applications: [0002] (1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 337,906, filed Jun. 22, 1999 in the name of Walker et al., which in turn is a continuation-in-part of [0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 889,503 filed Jul. 8, 1997 and entitled “System and Process for Local Acquisition of Products Priced Online” (97-032); Ser. No. 08 / 889,319 filed Jul. 8, 1997 and entitled “Conditional Purchase Offer Management System” (96-008X); Ser. No. 09 / 190,744 filed Nov. 11, 1998 and entitled “Method and Apparatus for A Cryptographically Assisted Commercial Network System Designed to Facilitate Buyer-Driven Conditional Purchase Offers” (96-008XXX), which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,207, filed Sep. 4, 1996; and Ser. No. 09 / 083,345 filed May 22, 1998 and entitled “Method and Apparatus for Managing Remote Vending Machine Transactions” (97-554); [0004] (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 388,723...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This traditional method of providing products to buyers, however, may require that the buyer visit a number of retailers to determine a reasonable price for the product.

For example, when a new retail store opens for business, many buyers will not know what products the store sells.

In addition, traditional methods do not let a product manufacturer establish a pricing relationship directly with buyers when the product is provided to buyers through one or more retailers.

Such a rebate or coupon, however, typically does not completely bypass the retailer's pricing structure (e.g., the buyer may receive a 10% discount from the retail price of a product).

Although this will save a buyer time, only regular retail prices (which the buyer would eventually be able to find without the Web site) are typically reported—without providing any other pricing advantage.

As price information becomes more accessible, buyers are growing more price sensitive and demand that products be sold at lower prices.

For example, many buyers are not home during the day and cannot sign for, or otherwise arrange to receive, the product from a delivery service.

In addition, the shipping service itself presents an additional cost that, depending on the product, may offset any savings made possible by shopping online.

Finally, some products simply cannot be delivered at all, such as a service provided to buyers.

With respect to a buyer, another disadvantage of online shopping is the delay involved with receiving a product.

The online shopping community has not effectively captured the impulsive and impatient buyer market, because a buyer is more likely to impulsively purchase a product when he or she can take immediate possession (instead of waiting several days for delivery).

In other words, a buyer who wants a product immediately is likely to visit a retailer and not buy the product online.

With respect to retail stores that are not online, online shopping presents additional problems.

In addition to losing the potential profit from the sale of the product itself, the store loses any chance of selling the buyer additional items during a visit, such as peripherals for the product or even unrelated items that attract the buyer's attention while he or she is in the store.

This would still be a problem even if the store invested the time and money required to establish an online shopping service.

Moreover, the store's online service may simply shift sales that would have otherwise occurred at the actual store (as opposed to attracting new buyers).

With respect to manufacturers, the availability of online shopping does little to solve the problem of establishing a pricing relationship directly with buyers.

However, manufacturers that establish such a service compete directly with their retailer's traditional distribution channel and therefore risk alienating retailers that also sell the manufacturer's product.

Additionally, establishing such a service requires a manufacturer to take on additional cost and responsibility in attracting and servicing customers directly.

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