Walker Digital, LLC

Ebay, Incorporated

Paypal, Inc.

Inventor Holdings, LLC

Deirdre O'Shea

Jay S Walker

Dean P Alderucci

Andrew Stephen Van Luchene

Geoffrey M Gelman

James Jorasch

Daniel E Tedesco

Stephen C Tulley

John M Packes, Jr

Keith Bemer

Magdalena Mik Fincham

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a controller receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second vendor (e.g., a subsidizing vendor). The offer may define, for example, a reduction in the price charged for an item purchased from a first vendor and an obligation for the customer to fulfill in exchange for the subsidy. The customer is charged a second price for the items, which is less than the total price, and may even be zero.

Method and apparatus for providing cross-benefits based on a customer activity

Products and processes are provided in which an award for a commitment from an entity to post information, via a posting site, at or before a subsequent time is offered to an entity. In response to receiving the commitment, the award is provided to the entity.

Systems and methods to determine a value relating to a post

Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The information may include type data identifying the item for sale as being a specific type of item. Based on the received type data, a posting payment amount is determined.

System to determine posting payment amount based on specific type of item

Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post relating to an item to be sold via a posting site. A posting payment award is determined. The posting payment award may be determined by calculating a posting payment amount. The posting award is provided in the form of a prominent feature of the post on the posting site.

System to feature a posting

Products and processes are provided in which information is received for a post relating to an item to be sold via a posting site. A posting payment amount relating to the post is determined. The posting amount is provided as a credit for purchases. For example, the credit may be a credit that is usable for purchases via the posting site.

System to provide a posting payment amount as a credit for purchases

A system and method for a supplier to offer multiple new products to a first person and multiple pre-owned products to a second person are disclosed. The invention includes a method wherein the supplier receives a request from the first person for a first new product. After accepting the first new product, the supplier stores data identifying the first person and data relating to the first new product in a memory of a computer. Thereafter, the second person queries the supplier about a pre-owned product. The supplier searches the memory of the computer to determine whether the data relating to the first new product satisfies the second person's inquiry for the pre-owned product. If so, the supplier transmits an offer for a second new product to the first person based on the data identifying the first person. If the offer is acceptable to the first person, the supplier provides the second new product to the first person and the pre-owned product to the second person.

System and method for offering multiple products

A POS terminal receives a signal that indicates an item, for example, via a bar code scanner. The POS terminal ascertains whether the item is associated with an offer for a rebate. If so, a code is generated and output to the customer, such as on a printed receipt. The code is associated with an offer for a rebate in exchange for establishing a subscription to a periodical. If the customer subscribes to a required periodical, he will be credited the amount he paid for the item. Subsequently, the customer requests a subscription to a periodical from a subscription fulfillment house, and provides his code in conjunction with the request. If the code is valid, the customer is provided with a rebate. The rebate may be provided directly by the subscription fulfillment house (e.g. a credit to a credit card account) or may be provided by a merchant (e.g. a discount on a future purchase).

Method and apparatus for facilitating the sale of subscriptions to periodicals

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a controller receives information relating to customer activity with a first vendor (e.g., via a Web page that a customer accesses). The controller further receives an indication of items the customer desires to purchase, the items having an associated total price. The controller determines, based on any of various criteria, whether to provide an offer for a subsidy based on the information relating to customer activity. The offer for a subsidy is from a second vendor (a subsidizing vendor), and may define, for example, a reduction in the price charged for the item and an obligation for the customer to fulfill in exchange for the subsidy. If the customer accepts the offer, he is charged a second price for the items. The second price is less than the total price, and may even be zero.

A controller is in communication with a plurality of vendors that are servicing customers, as well as with a plurality of 'subsidizing' vendors seeking access to those customers. The controller receives from a first vendor an indication of one or more items that a customer is to purchase. In response, the controller transmits, on behalf of a subsidizing vendor, an indication of an offer for a subsidy such as a reduction in the customer's purchase price. If the customer accepts the offer, the controller provides an amount of funds from the subsidizing vendor to the first vendor. The controller may also retain a portion of the amount as payment. The controller also facilitates a transaction between the customer and the subsidizing vendor. For example, the customer may be required to sign up for a service (e.g. credit card account service) that is provided by the subsidizing vendor. By having the controller manage such a system by acting between subsidizing vendors and vendors that are servicing customers, a vendor need only communicate with the controller, rather than a plurality of other vendors.

Method and apparatus for providing cross-benefits via a central authority

Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The information may include, e.g., the class and type of item being sold, the reputation of a seller, a floor price below which the item will not be sold, a condition of the item and peripherals included with the item. Based on the received information, a posting payment amount is determined.

Process and product for determining an amount of posting payment

A method and apparatus for managing a subscription to a product in a retail environment, wherein the product for which a subscription is offered is selected based on the customer's historical purchases. The subscription defines a price for the selected product, wherein the subscription price is lower than the retail price of the product. The subscription specifies conditions which the customer has to meet in order to remain entitled to receive the subscription price for purchases of the product. Such conditions typically include a required frequency of purchases for a required period of time. The conditions of the subscription are selected so as to maximize the customer's visits to the business offering the subscription without unnecessarily eroding the profits of the business.

Method and apparatus for determining a subscription to a product in a retail environment

Information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The information may include, for example, the class and type of item being sold, the reputation of a seller, a floor price below which the item will not be sold, a condition of the item and peripherals included with the item. Based on the received information, a posting payment amount is determined.

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Orinda, CA, United States of America

Deirdre O'Shea