Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING REBATES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to systems and methods for point-of sale transactions in
retail
stores. More specifically, the present invention is directed towards systems
and methods for
providing a rebate forth to the consumer at the point-of sale for one or more
rebate programs.
DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND
Rebate forn~s have long been used in the retail industry in order to influence
the sale of
packaged goods. Conventional rebate programs use preprinted rebate forms which
are mass-
produced and shipped to the various retail outlets. Typically, the rebate
forms are shipped
directly from the manufacturer or distributer to various stores which sell
their products. Rebate
forms are often bundled together on tear-away pads which are intended to be
posted within the
retail store. For example, there is often a rebate form bulletin board located
at the front of the
store, or in another central location, which may be accessed by customers. The
store personnel
or clerks are generally called upon to post the various rebate forth tear-away
pads received from
manufacturers.
Manufacturers may also rely upon magazine advertisements to inform consumers
about
conventional rebate programs. Another avenue for distributing rebate forms is
through the use of
mass mailing campaigns. In each of these conventional methods, manufacturers
attempt to
deliver the rebate forms to a target audience by using magazines which have
readers with
demographics favorable to the manufacturer. Similarly, consumer databases may
be used for
mass mailings in order to attempt to reach consumers with ceratin demographic
characteristics.
Rebate programs have traditionally been intended to entice price conscious
consumers to
purchase the rebate offerors' product instead of the products of competitors.
In this way, the
company promoting their product through a rebate program can gain valuable
market share away
from competitors. However, conventional rebate programs are subject to a
number of
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drawbacks. First, for a rebate program to be effective, the customer must
become aware of the
rebate offer, and then be influenced by it to purchase the product. Even if
the customer is aware
of the rebate offer, conventional methods of distributing rebate forms require
a fair amount of
effort on the consumer's part. When the rebate forms are distributed using
bulletin board tear-
away pads, the customer must make an effort to find the store's bulletin board
and seek out the
rebate forms, if any are available. For advertisements and targeted mailings,
once the customer
discovers the rebate form, the customer must save it until the product has
been purchased and a
receipt and proof of purchase are available.
The rebate bulletin boards are often haphazardly organized, making it
difficult for
consumers to find rebate forms for the products they are interested in. In
addition, the tear-away
rebate form booklets are sometimes lost, or depleted before the rebate program
ends. Rebate
programs which rely on mass mailing or advertisements in periodicals can be
subject to
uncertainty as to the number of rebate forms which will be redeemed. That is,
it is difficult to
estimate and control the number of rebate forms which will be submitted to a
manufacturer.
After a product has been purchased for which a rebate is available,
conventional rebate
methods require that the customer clip the proof of purchase symbol from the
product. The
customer then mails the proof of purchase, along with the cash register
receipt and the filled-out
rebate form, to the manufacturer of the rebate product.
In addition to these drawbacks, conventional rebate programs may be subject to
fraud.
For example, rebate forms can be submitted by non-purchasers using a proof of
purchase
retrieved from the trash or otherwise obtained, along with a sales receipt of
a comparably priced
product. Since the format and information provided on sales receipts varies
from one store to
another, it is often difficult to positively identify a rebate product based
on sales receipt
information.
For these and other reasons recognized by the present inventors, an improved
system of
providing rebate forms is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of conventional
rebate
programs, and provides benefits not heretofore realized in the prior art. Use
of the present
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invention reduces the possibility of fraud, since the rebate form is printed
on the same piece of
paper as a proof of purchase. In addition, targeted advertising is more easily
and effectively
achieved in accordance with the present invention. Rebate programs according
to the present
invention can be advertised directly on the product label or on the pricing
signage located on the
product shelving.
One embodiment of the present invention involves methods and systems for
distributing
rebate forms, in which a product identification code is detected at a point-of
sale. Based upon
the identification code, a rebate program database is accessed, and it is
determined whether there
is a rebate program associated with the product. A rebate form is printed out
at the point-of sale
for any rebate program associated with the product, with the rebate form
serving as a proof of
purchase for the product.
Another embodiment of the present invention involves methods and systems for
providing rebate forms at a point-of sale which is achieved by establishing a
communication link
between a retail store information system and a rebate clearinghouse.
Information about the
rebate program for various products is stored in a database at the retail
store. The information
system of the retail store is configured to print rebate forms for said rebate
program in response
to purchases of the product. The rebate forms contain information provided by
the information
system. Upon making a sale of a rebate product, information of the purchase is
communicated
via the communications link from the retail store to the clearinghouse.
Another embodiment of the present invention involves methods and systems for
providing a rebate to a customer. Rebate information is determined at a point-
of sale for a rebate
product, and the rebate form is printed out at the point-of sale. Upon
receiving the rebate form at
a clearinghouse from the customer, the form is machine read, and the rebate is
then sent to the
customer.
It will appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention represents
novel
advances in the field of rebate programs in the retail store sector. In
particular, the present
invention provides for centralized control of a rebate program, rebate
advertising directly at the
product location on the shelf, and point-of sale delivery of rebate forms.
Other aspects and
advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more
detailed description,
taken in conjunction with the drawings.
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These and other aspects of the invention will now be described in greater
detail in
connection with the number of exemplary embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant
advantages
thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by
reference to the
following detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an in-store system for implementing the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a flow chart for implementing the present invention in retail
stores; and
FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting an implementation of the present invention
amongst a
number of retail stores.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 depicts a retail store configuration for implementing the present
invention. The
system depicted in FIG. I represents a system for implementing a rebate
program, and for
gathering information concerning the sale of rebate trigger items. By
definition rebate trigger
items are the products which are the subject of a rebate program, that is,
products for which a
rebate is being offered. The system of FIG. 1 includes a store controller 100,
a plurality of
checkout stands 102 and 1 I0, a customer information database 118, a rebate
information
database 120, a configuration and formatting database 122, and an input/output
unit 126
configured within store 90. Each of the checkout stands (which may be called
cash register
stations) has a cash register, a scarmer and a printer. For example, checkout
stand 102 includes
cash register 104, scanner 106 and printer 108. The input/output device 126 is
in communication
with a rebate central control system 128, which may be in communication with
other stores as
well. The configuration depicted in FIG. 1 for store 90 is a typical
configuration of the present
invention. However, variations of this configuration and other configurations
for communicating
point-of sale information within a store may be used with the present
invention as well. FIG. 1
also depicts a clearinghouse 130 which serves to receive, process and redeem
the filled-out rebate
forms. In some embodiments, the rebate central control system I28 serves as
the clearinghouse
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130, that is, the rebate central control system 128 and the clearinghouse 130
are part of the same
organization or company. In other embodiments, the role of the clearinghouse
130 is served by
the manufacturer of the rebate product, the manufacturer's agent, or another
entity sponsoring the
rebate program (e.g., a distributor, wholesaler or retailer of the product).
The store controller 100 can be embodied as a computer, processor, or other
type of
controller device or logic. The store controller 100 is typically located in
an office area within
the store, but may be located off site and configured for remote control of
the various checkout
stands or cash register stations. The store controller 100 is in communication
with the checkout
stands throughout the store. The various components of the information system
for the store 90
depicted in FIG. 1 are interconnected by a bus 124. The bus 124 may consist of
either hardwired
interconnections, wireless interconnections, or a combination of both.
Retail stores typically have one or more checkout stands, such as the checkout
stands 102
and 110 shown in FIG. 1. The checkout stand 102 represents a typical
configuration, comprising
a cash register 104, a scanner 106 and a printer 108. In some embodiments, the
cash register 104
has a computer or a processor integrated locally within the device. In other
embodiments the
cash register 104 is a dumb terminal which is centrally controlled, or
alternatively, a portion of
the distributed logic spread through the store 90. In the embodiment depicted,
the cash register
104 controls scamler 106 and printer 108. In other embodiments the scanner 106
and printer 108
axe controlled centrally by the store controller 100, which is either located
on site as shown or
remotely located.
The scanner 106 generally consists of a bar code scanner, as is known in the
art. Other
types of data entry devices can be used in accordance with the present
invention. For example,
the universal product code (UPC) of the product or other identifying mark, can
be manually
entered, or can be entered via character recognition, magnetic codes, or other
like product
marking schemes. The printer 108 can either be integrated as part of the cash
register 104, or can
be a stand-alone unit conveniently located for access by the customer. The
printer 108 used in
accordance with the present invention, can be the same printer used for
printing sales receipts, or
can be a stand-alone printer dedicated to the printing of rebate forms and/or
coupons. The
checkout stands 102 and 110 can contain all of the aforementioned devices
integrated into one
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package, or may comprise modular versions of the cash register 104, the
scanner 106 and printer
108 suitably located for the convenience of the checkout clerks and customers.
The configuration of retail store 90 depicted in FIG. 1 also includes a
customer
information database 118, a rebate information database 120 and a
configuration and formatting
database I22. These databases can be contained within the memory of a computer
serving as the
store controller I00, or can be contained within other interconnected storage
devices, located on-
site or remotely, which can be accessed by the store controller 100. The three
databases 118, 120
and I22 can be separately maintained databases, or alternatively, can be
different portions of a
single integrated database. In an alternative embodiment, information of one
or more of the
databases 118, 120 and 122 can be encoded on a label which is affixed to the
product. In
general, the customer information database 118 contains information about
particular trigger item
purchases or customers, the rebate information database 120 contains
information about the
rebate programs being offered, and the configuration and formatting database
122 contains
information for operating or comnnunicating with the equipment in the store
90.
The customer information database 118 contains information concerning
purchases of
rebate trigger items consummated at the store 90, and information about
registered customers of
the store 90. The customer information database 118 contains the name and
address, and
possibly the telephone number, of the customer. Other identifying information
may be included
in the customer information database 118, as well as information about that
customer's buying
trends, preferences, and participation in other incentive programs. Such
information is often
considered valuable for use in the marketing endeavors of retail stores. The
customer
information database 118 can be a dedicated database specifically for use with
a rebate program,
or can be used in conjunction with the store 90's own stored customer
information. For example,
a chain of grocery stores may offer special incentives or target information
for preferred
customers registered with the grocery store chain. The store typically keeps
customer
information pertaining to its preferred customer program in some sort of
computer database or
other type of accessible storage. Generally, a preferred customer offers a
card (or other ID) at the
checkout which has a membership identification number used to access the
store's preferred
customer information. In some embodiments of the present invention, the
store's preferred
customer information can be integrated with the customer information database
118.
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The customer inforniation database 1 I 8 also contains information about the
sales of
rebate trigger items at a particular retail store, e.g., store 90. The trigger
item sales information
generally includes the date and purchase amount of the sale, and can also
include more detailed
information such as the time of day of the purchase, and other products which
the customer
purchased at the same time. The trigger item sales information can be linked
to the available
customer information, if any. The customer information can be in the form of
an identification
code for a registered customer, or a pointer to the registered customer's
account identifying that
customer as the purchaser.
Some embodiments of the invention include purchase verification data for the
sale of
each rebate trigger item. Such verification information is sent to the rebate
clearinghouse or
manufacturer as an added measure of security to avoid fraud. The purchase
verification data tray
include a rebate form code specific to a particular purchase to serve as a
confirniation of that
purchase. In such embodiments, the rebate is only provided for those rebate
forms which include
the correct verification data. Alternatively, the verification information can
be encoded in the
rebate form itself in the form of specialized codes, marks or designs printed
on the form. The
information about such codes markings or designs can be contained within any
of the databases
I 18, 120 or 122, but preferably within the customer information database 118.
The rebate information database 120 contains information specific to various
rebate
programs being offered for products sold in the store 90. The rebate
information includes the
amount of the rebate, product UPC codes to which the rebate applies, the
beginning date and
expiration date for the rebate program, and any other applicable rules or
limitations for the rebate
program. In addition, the address, telephone number, and web site address of
the manufacturer
offering the rebate is included within the rebate information database 120.
The rebate
information database 120 can also be used to store information intended for
the manager of store
90 for use in running or managing the rebate programs. The rebate information
database 120 can
also include advertising information for various rebate programs, e.g.,
information to be printed
on the labels or price tags of the product, or signs to be displayed on the
shelf where the product
is located. In an alternative embodiment, data of the rebate information
databases 120 pertaining
to a particular product can be encoded on a label which is affixed to that
product. In this way,
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when the product is scanned or otherwise detected at the checkout stand, the
rebate information
data is communicated to the checkout stand printer for printing out a rebate
form.
The configuration and formatting database 122 contains information for
operating the
equipment of the store 90 such as the store's cash registers, computers,
scanners, or inventory
system. The database 122 also contains information for communicating with the
store 90 or with
equipment of the store. For example, the configuration and formatting database
122 contains
communication protocol information specific to the store 90 equipment, and
information
necessary for formatting and printing a rebate form at the point-of sale using
the printers of store
90, e.g., printers 108 and 116. The configuration and formatting database 122
also contains
information for the fonts and formats required by the various printers within
the store, such as the
printer 108 and printer 116 of FIG. I . Basically, the database 122 is
intended for storing any
information which is specific to the equipment in store 90 or is necessary for
communications
between store 90 and the rebate central control system 128. Hence, the
information contained
within the database 122 is preferably selected for, or customized for, the
particular equipment
configurations of the store 90. By contrast, the information concerning
various rebate programs
contained in the rebate information database 120 is generally consistent from
one store to the
next, since the information in database 120 concerns rebate programs which may
be implemented
in large numbers of stores across the region.
The store controller 100 cormnunicates with a rebate central control system
128 to
receive information pertaining to various rebate programs and the instructions
for implementing
these programs. The store controller 100 can also send information concerning
the sales of
rebate trigger items. As shown in FIG. 1, the store controller 100 can
communicate with control
system 128 via an input/output unit 126. The input/output unit 126 can be a
computer modem,
an Internet port, a satellite dish antenna, or any other like communication
device. In alternative
embodiments, the store controller 100 may communicate with the rebate central
control system
128 by exchanging computer disks or other portable storage media containing
information.
Communication may also be implemented via email. In practice, it tends to be
most convenient
to set up the initial system using computer disks to download information to
the store controller
100, and then communicate updates and subsequent information concerning rebate
programs via
the Internet, email, or an other communication link.
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In one embodiment, the store controller 100 communicates with the rebate
central control
system 128 both for receiving rebate program information and for sending
information of the
rebate trigger item sales (e.g., trigger item sales transaction data and
verification symbols). In
this embodiment, the rebate central control system 128, which implements the
rebate programs,
also serves as the rebate clearinghouse 130 to process the redeemed rebate
forms. Tn other
embodiments, the information concerning rebate trigger item sales can be
communicated directly
to the manufacturer, or an agent of the manufacturer. Tn such embodiments, the
rebate central
control system 128 implements the rebate programs, while the manufacturer or
its agent serves as
the rebate clearinghouse 130 to process the redeemed rebate forms. In yet
other embodiments,
some rebate programs are implemented with the rebate central control system
128 serving as the
rebate clearinghouse 130 while other rebate programs are implemented with the
manufacturer or
an agent serving as the rebate clearinghouse 130.
In yet other embodiments, rebate central control system 128 and consumer
computer I50
contain means to connect Internet 140. In addition, rebate central control
system 128 may
communicate the rebate offer to the stores customer via the customer's
consumer computer I50.
One means for accomplishing this is for rebate central control system 128, or
another computer
system in communication with rebate central control system 128 to run web
server software and
to make an electronic version of the rebate form available for downloading by
the stores
customer to consumer computer 150. For example, rebate central control system
128 may run
Web server software establishing a "personal page" for the customer. Personal
pages and
websites providing personal pages and other consumer purchase history based
incentives are
disclosed in United States patent 6,014,634 the entire contents of which are
hereby incorporated
by reference. Briefly, however, a consumer's personal page or personal page is
a web page
presenting the consumer data contained in a personal database containing
information for the
individual consumer. A login may be associated with the personal web page and
IP address may
be associated with the personal web page. A cookie on the consumer's computer
may be
associated with the personal web page. In this alternative embodiment, the
rebate form is
provided to the consumer via the consumer's personal web page from which the
consumer can
download the rebate form. A benefit of this embodiment is that it avoids the
stores costs
associated with printing the rebate form. Another benef t of this embodiment
is that it allows the
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consumer to determine when to receive the rebate form. In a related
embodiment, the rebate
central control system 128 may email the rebate form to an email address
associated with the
customer. With both the personal page embodiment and the email embodiment, the
timing of
making the rebate form available on the customer's personal page or the
emailing of the rebate
form to the consumer may be specified. For example, the personal web page may
make the
rebate form available only for the period of time ending near the end of the
date upto which the
rebate is valid. For example, the day of, the day before, or the week before
the rebate offer
expires the form may be made available. Moreover, the email embodiment may
include timing
such that the email is transmitted to the consumer after a period of time from
when the consumer
purchased in the store. For example, the period of time may be equal to or
slightly less than
(e.g., one day, two days, or one week prior to) an expected period of delay
between the
consumer's shopping visits or a product purchase cycle time period.
FIG. 2 depicts a method in accordance with the present invention. The method
begins at
step 5202 and proceeds to step 5204 where a product is scanned at the point-of
sale, e.g., at
scanner 106 of checkout stand 102. Step 5204 may entail scanning a product's
UPC code using a
bar code reader or other like system for entering product identification.
Alternatively, step 5204
can be performed by manually entering the product identification information.
Once the UPC
code has been scanned or the product identification information has otherwise
been entered in
step 5204, the method proceeds to step 5206.
In step 5206, it is determined whether a rebate program exists for the product
being
purchased. This may be done by examining a database containing rebate
information, e.g.,
database 120 of FIG. 1. In addition, the rebate information database is
consulted for the
presently scanned product in combination With previously scanned products, for
which a special
combination rebate program is being offered. That is, a rebate program which
applies when a
predefined combination of products is purchased at one time in a store. In an
alternative
embodiment a combination rebate program can be offered for the purchase of a
combination of
products, or a certain number of the same product, which are purchased over a
predefined period
of time at a particular store or at associated stores.
Upon completing step 5206, the method proceeds to step 5208 for determining
whether
the product is a rebate trigger item, i.e., a rebate program is offered for
the purchased product. In
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some embodiments, the product may have a rebate program associated with it,
but not be a rebate
trigger item. For example, a rebate program may apply only to preferred
customers of the store
who purchase a particular product. Hence, another customer (i.e., not a
preferred customer)
purchasing the product would not be eligible for a rebate since the product is
not a rebate trigger
item for that (non-preferred) customer. In step 5208, if the product is a
rebate trigger item, then
the method proceeds from step 5208 in accordance with the "yes" branch to step
5210 where the
rebate information retrieved in step 5206 is saved or otherwise tagged for use
in processing the
customer's rebate form. Upon completing step 5210, the method proceeds to step
5212. Back in
step 5208, if it is determined that the scanned product is not a rebate
trigger item, the method
proceeds in accordance with the "no" branch to step S212.
In step 5212 it is determined whether the scanned product is the last product
being
purchased by the customer. If the scanned product is not the last product and
there are further
products to be scanned, then the method loops back to back to step 5204 in
accordance with the
"no" branch from 5212, in order to scan the next product. If, in step 5212, it
is determined that
the scanned product is the last product being purchased at that time, then the
method proceeds
from step 5212 in accordance with the "yes" branch to step 5214. In step 5214
it is determined
whether any rebate trigger items are being purchased by the customer. If no
rebate trigger items
are being purchased, then the method proceeds in accordance with the "no"
branch to step 5216
to print a message on the receipt stating that no rebates are offered for the
items being purchased.
The method then proceeds to step 5238, and ends. In an alternative embodiment,
the method can
proceed directly from step 5214 in accordance with the "no" branch to step
5238, with no
provision being made to print a message on the receipt if there are no rebate
trigger items being
purchased. If, in step 5214, it is determined that the purchase includes one
or more rebate
trigger items, then the method proceeds in accordance with the "yes" branch
from step 5214 to
step 5218.
In step S2I8 it is determined whether the rebate form is to be in a format
which is
customer specific (e.g., containing the customer's name and mailing address
information
preprinted on the form), or simply a generic form With blanks for the customer
to enter their own
name and address. Some manufacturers may prefer to have customer specific
rebate forms
preprinted so as to simplify or reduce the amount of data entry at the
receiving end. Other
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manufacturers may prefer to have generic forms with blanks for the customer to
enter their own
name and address information. Providing a generic rebate form may produce
lower rebate
redemption rates than the use of customer specific rebate forms with
preprinted customer
information. If in step 5218 it is determined that a generic rather than a
customer specific rebate
form is to be used, the method proceeds in accordance with the "no"branch from
step 5218 to
step 5226. However, if in step 5218 it is determined that a customer specific
rebate form is to be
used for the current rebate transaction, the method proceeds in accordance
with the "yes" branch
from step 5218 to step 5220.
In step 5220 it is determined whether the necessary client information is kept
within a
customer information database 118, or other such information storage facility.
If the customer
information is available, then the method proceeds in accordance with the
"yes" branch from step
5220 to step 5224 where the customer information is retrieved from the
customer information
database 118 shown in FIG. 1. Upon retrieving the information, the method
proceeds from step
5224 to 5226. However, if in step 5220 it is determined that the customer
information is not
available in any database, or is insufficient, the method proceeds in
accordance with the "no"
branch from step 5220 to step 5222. In step 5222 the checkout teller is
prompted to request the
customer information for manual entry. Alternatively, in step 5222 the
customer may be
provided with a data entry terminal for entering the necessary customer
information for the
rebate form. The data entry terminal can be a keyboard, a speech recognition
device, or other
like data entry system. The data entry terminal for use by the customer could
be conveniently
located past the checkout stand so as not to hold up the point-of sale
transactions of other
customers. Upon entering the customer information in step 5222, the method
proceeds to step
5226.
In step 5226, all the rebate information pertaining to the applicable rebate
trigger items)
being purchased is gathered (e.g. retrieved from the rebate information
database 120 shown in
FIG. 1, or from a like storage facility). Once the rebate information has been
retrieved, the
method proceeds to step 5228 for compilation of the rebate form parameters
such as the total
rebate amount, expiration data, and applicable rules concerning the rebate.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the amounts of alI
rebates
for the products being purchased at the point-of sale by the customer are
compiled into one
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master amount for printing on a single master rebate form. A master rebate
form is convenient
for the customer in that only one form needs to be mailed in in order to
collect the cumulative
rebate amounts for the various rebate trigger items being purchased. An
additional aspect of this
embodiment is that one centralized rebate clearinghouse can collect the master
rebate form for
various rebate programs, and then distribute a single master rebate amount to
the customer. In
alternative embodiments, instead of having a single master rebate form,
multiple rebate forms
can be printed on the same strip of paper. One or more of the multiple rebate
forms can itself be
a master rebate form for a plurality of rebate products.
In some situations various rebate trigger items being purchased have rebate
offers with
different expiration dates. In one embodiment for such situations, a
predetermined default
expiration date is determined. This can be done by using either the earliest-
in-time expiration
date, using the latest-in time-expiration date, or any other convenient date,
e.g., any date which is
agreeable to the various manufacturers offering the rebate programs. One such
convenient date
for use as an expiration date is a date which is transaction-date dependent.
For example, it can be
prenegotiated with all participating manufacturers that the rebate forms will
be valid for
redemption for a predefined time (e.g., three months) from the date of
purchase. The use of a
transaction-date dependent expiration date avoids having rebate programs with
incongruent or
conflicting terms regarding their respective expiration dates.
In another embodiment, the master rebate form can be used with the various
rebate
amounts and their corresponding expiration dates printed on the master rebate
form, preferably in
chronological order showing the amount that the master rebate will be in
relation to the various
expiration dates. In another embodiment of the invention, the various rebate
forms which have
differing expiration dates (or other conflicting terms, e.g., redemption
address) are all printed
separately, or on the same strip of paper so they can easily be separated. In
this way, the
customer can redeem all the rebate forms at once or can redeem them separately
depending on
the customer's preference or situation (e.g., different family members are
entitled to various
rebate amounts for the different rebate trigger items). In yet other
embodiments, multiple related
rebate trigger items can be compiled onto a single rebate form, while other
unrelated rebate
trigger items, or items with conflicting rebate terms and conditions, can have
a stand-alone rebate
form.
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Upon completing step 5228, the method proceeds to step 5230. In step 5230 the
rebate
form, or multiple rebate forms, are formatted for printing. Such formatting
can include
provisions for providing verification data on the rebate form itself. In
accordance with the
present invention, the rebate form serves as a proof of purchase as well as a
means of conveying
the terms and conditions of the rebate (e.g., dollar amount and expiration
date), and, in some
embodiments, customer specific information (e.g., the customer's address). In
this way, the
present invention is advantageous over convention methods since the customer
is not required to
separately provide a rebate form, along with a proof of purchase consisting of
the product's UPC
code and retail store receipt. The use of a rebate form according to the
present invention which
serves as a proof of purchase also reduces the amount of data entry and
processing at the rebate
redemption center (e.g., rebate redemption clearinghouse or the manufacturer).
Hence, the
present invention simplifies the rebate process for the customer, and also
streamlines the rebate
process for the rebate clearinghouse or manufacturer.
The inforniation to be formatted for printing on the rebate form includes the
applicable
terms, conditions, and rules of the rebate offer, as well as the amounts
pertaining to the rebate
offer and the expiration date. The rebate form also includes the mailing
address information for
the rebate clearinghouse or manufacturer to which the rebate form.
Alternative embodiments do not require that the customer mail the rebate form
to receive
rebate compensation. In these embodiments, the rebate form can be redeemed for
a store credit.
Such a store credit may be applied towards the purchase of any type of goods
carned by the
store, or for a predefined type of good (e.g., one or more products of the
rebate item
manufacturer). In another alternative embodiment, the rebate form can either
be mailed in for a
rebate amount or alternatively be cashed in for a store credit, at the option
of the customer. In
such embodiments, the rebate amount may differ from the store credit amount,
and the store
credit amount may be different for different products.
Upon completing step 5230, the method proceeds to step 5232 for printing the
rebate
form. In one embodiment, the rebate form can be formatted for printing on the
same strip of
paper as the cash register receipt. In alternative embodiments, a different
printer can be provided
for printing a rebate form separately. In such instances, the rebate form can
be printed in the
format of a postcard, with or without prepaid postage or a postage guarantee.
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Upon performing step 5232, the method proceeds to step S234 where it is
determined
whether verification code is to be sent to the rebate clearinghouse or
manufacturer, in a
communication separate from the rebate form. The verification code may include
a rebate form
number containing many digits or alpha numeric characters, or other like type
of verification
symbol. The verification code can be in a format which is not readily
discernable, e.g.,
magnetically encoded, in bar code format, or in the form of a border design or
logo variation.
The verification code may be transaction-specific (i.e., each specific
transaction has its own
identifiable verification code to confirm that specific purchase) or can be
common for like
purchases (e.g., each chain of stores has its own verification code to confirm
a purchase at that
chain of stores, or each type of rebate product has its own verification code
to confirm a purchase
of that type of product). In embodiments including a provision for
verification, the clearinghouse
only pays out the rebate amount for those rebate forms which include the
correct verification
code. If, in step 5234, it is determined that there is not a verification code
associated with the
rebate target item, then the method proceeds via the "no" path to step 5238,
and ends. If the
rebate target item does have a verification code associated with it, then the
method proceeds to
step 5236 via the "yes" path. In step 5236 the rebate verification code is
communicated to the
rebate clearinghouse. This may be achieved by sending the rebate verification
codes via email,
uploading it to a website, sending by modem, sending paper copies, or other
like mode of
communication. The verification codes may be send individually as they are
generated, or may
be stored and sent periodically, e.g., at the end of the day. Upon
communicating the verification
code to the rebate clearinghouse in step 5236, the method proceeds to step
5238 where it ends.
FIG. 3 depicts a method for carrying out the present invention from the
perspective of the
rebate central control system 128 shown in FIG. 1. The method starts in step
5302 and proceeds
to step 5304 where individual stores (e.g., store 90) have their computer
systems, databases,
communication systems and other equipment configured to store, process and
communicate
information for carrying out the present invention. This typically involves
the establishment of
communication links, and computer programs being downloaded from the central
system 128 to
the store 90. Step 5304 typically involves the storage of an initial set of
data in one or more
databases. For example, this may entail storing customer information in the
database 118,
storing rebate information in the database 120 and storing equipment
formatting and
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configuration information in the database 122, as shown in FIG. 1. In
addition, one or more
computer programs, routines, or other such logic, can be loaded into the store
controller 100.
Similarly, step 5304 may entail configuring the input/output unit 126 for
facilitating
communication between the store controller 100 and rebate central control
system 128. Step
5304 generally covers the considerations of initializing one or more stores
for practicing the
present invention. However, some aspects of step 5304 may need to be repeated,
or updated,
due to changes in the equipment or systems in the stores or in the central
facility. Once the
configuration has properly been achieved in step 5304, the method proceeds to
step 5306.
In step 5306, rebate information about particular rebate programs is
downloaded into the
rebate information database 120. Step 5306 is an ongoing process which is
performed as new
rebate programs are implemented. For each new rebate program being implemented
the
information is downloaded into the appropriate database within each of the
participating stores,
e.g., the store 90. Following step 5306 the method proceeds to step 5308.
Step 5308 involves setting up signs or labeling in the proximity of the
product shelves to
communicate particular rebate programs to potential customers. This may entail
labeling
products with price tags or stickers containing an indication that a rebate
offer exits. Step 5308
may also entail setting up displays, placards or signs to be affixed to the
shelves or in the general
proximity of the products to indicate the existence of a rebate offer. Such
information can also
be affixed to the rebate offer bulletin board typically located in the front
of the store. In practice,
the actual labeling of products or positioning of signs of step 5308 may be
performed by the
personnel of the store 90 (e.g., stock clerks), rather than the personnel of
the rebate central
control system 128. Upon completing step 5308, the method proceeds to step
5310.
Step 5310 involves the receipt of verification codes. As discussed above in
conjunction
with step 5234 of FIG. 2, some embodiments of the present invention entail the
exchange of
rebate trigger item verification codes. In accordance with these embodiments,
upon the purchase
of a trigger item a verification code is sent from the store 90 to the rebate
clearinghouse 130.
Then, when the system 128 receives a rebate form from the customer, a
verification code
associated with the rebate form is checked against the stored verification
code number received
from the store 90. In this way, fraudulent rebate transactions can be avoided.
Once the rebate
form has been verified, the method proceeds to step 5312. Alternatively, in
embodiments with
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no provision for the use of verification codes, the verification process may
simply entail a visual
examination of the rebate form upon receiving it from the customer to ensure
it is not a forgery.
The method proceeds from step 5310 to step 5312.
In step 5312, the rebate clearinghouse 130 receives the completed rebate from
the
customer. Generally, the customer sends the rebate form through the mail,
although any form of
delivering the rebate form to the rebate clearinghouse 130 is acceptable. Once
the rebate
clearinghouse 130 has received the rebate form in step 5312, the method
proceeds to step 5314
for payment of the rebate amount. If the verification codes match, a rebate
amount is mailed or
otherwise credited to the customer. Upon payment to the customer of the rebate
amount in step
5314 and, the method proceeds to step 5316 and ends.
To facilitate an understanding of the invention, many aspects of the invention
have been
described herein in terms of sequences of actions to be performed by elements
of a computer
system. It will be recognized that in each of these embodiments, the various
actions could be
performed by specialized circuits (e.g., discrete logic gates interconnected
to perform a
specialized function), by program instructions being executed by one or more
processors or other
such processing devices, or by a combination of these. Moreover, the invention
can be embodied
entirely within any form of computer readable storage medium having stored
thereon an
appropriate set of computer instructions that would cause a processing device
to carry out the
method described herein. Thus, the various aspects of the present invention
can be embodied in
many different forms, and all such forms are contemplated to be within the
scope of the
invention.
For the sake of illustrative simplicity, the invention has been discussed in
terms of
systems and methods involving rebate trigger items. While the term "items" is
generally thought
to apply to tangible products, the present invention applies more broadly to
services as well as
goods. That is, the present invention also applies generally to rebate trigger
purchases which
may either be goods, services or a combination of both. For example, the
present invention
could be used in conjunction with the purchase of a telephone calling card
which is associated
with a predefined amount. While a telephone card is a tangible product, the
service offered in the
form of completing a telephone call and the services of human telephone
operators is also
associated with such a phone card. A telephone calling card is but one of
example of the many
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product/services which may be used in conjunction with the present invention.
In those instances
when a pure service or a service/product is involved, the company offering the
rebate is often
referred to as a service provider rather than a manufacturer.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention
can be
embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential aspects
or characteristics
thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all
respects to be
illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by
the appended claims
rather than the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the
meaning and range of
equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are
possible in
light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the
scope of the
appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described herein.
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