The Gift Certificate Center, Inc.

Other

Ams Corporation

William J Veeneman

Phillip R Brooks

Robert H Hamilton

Thomas J Doyle

Karla J Alexander

Steven B Poulter

Kathleen M Veeneman

Debra Remington

Barbara Thomas

The present invention provides methods and systems for facilitating gift registry. A variety of systems are provided which make registering for gifts more efficient for consumers and retailers. These systems include an express registration card system and a reverse registry system. The methods associate the various systems with a common registry number. The express registration card system enables a registrant to register for gifts without requiring identification information first be given. The reverse registry enables registration of items already owned in order to inform potential gift givers of preferences.

Methods for product registering in a registry including use of stored value cards

A method for promoting an electronic database-driven gift registry includes issuing one or more database access keys to an organization having one or more members, and providing an incentive for the one or more members to register with the gift registry by initializing respective of the database access keys with a database associated with the gift registry. The method further includes awarding a first award to the one or more members who register with a gift registry, and awarding a second award to the organization for each of the one or more members who register with the gift registry.

Method for establishing and promoting a gift registry

The present invention provides a system for registering items selected by a registrant from a plurality of participating merchants for subsequent communication to a prospective purchaser. The system has a computer system that contains identifying information about the registrant. A portable input and storage device is provided that can be carried by the registrant into a plurality of participating merchants. The portable input and storage device is capable of receiving and storing information regarding gifts that the registrant desires to receive as presents. The input and storage device stores a unique identifier for the particular merchant each desired gift is from. A transfer device is provided connected to the computer system that receives the information regarding the registrant's desired gifts from the portable input and storage device and transfers the information to the computer system. Finally, a prospective purchaser interface device is provided that allows the prospective purchaser to view, sort or print a list of the gifts desired by the registrant and which particular merchant those gifts are from.

Multi merchant gift registry

Multi-merchant gift registry

The present invention provides a system for registering items selected by a registrant from a plurality of participating merchants for subsequent communication to a prospective purchaser. The system has a computer system that contains identifying information about the registrant. A portable input and storage device is provided that can be carried by the registrant into a plurality of participating stores. The portable input and storage device is capable of receiving and storing information regarding gifts that the registrant desires to receive as presents. The input and storage device stores a unique identifier for the particular merchant each desired gift is from. A transfer device is provided connected to the computer system that receives the information regarding the registrant's desired gifts from the portable input and storage device and transfers the information to the computer system. Finally, a prospective purchaser interface device is provided that allows the prospective purchaser to view, sort or print a list of the gifts desired by the registrant and which particular merchant those gifts are from.

Gift registry apparatus provides registration of information for a gift registrant and allows access to the registry by potential gift giver users. The apparatus is a network of computer terminals used in conjunction with a bar code scanner. A registrant provides personal information. The bar code scanner is used to obtain product information on desired gifts. The personal information and the product information are associated together. The apparatus is accessed by potential gift givers to obtain printouts of potential gifts for particular registrants.

Gift registry apparatus and method

An electronic gift certificate dispenser device for printing and dispensing a gift certificate purchased by a credit card. A consumer approaches the device and inserts a credit card into a magnetic card reader. The consumer chooses a retailer from a menu of participating retailers and enters the gift certificate value. The machine automatically verifies the credit card, causes the account to be debited and prints the gift certificate. A plurality of gift certificate dispensing devices can be connected in a network under the control of a central processing unit. Information regarding gift certificate purchases is transferred from the devices to the central processing unit to be collated and billed to credit card accounts. The central processing unit also informs merchants of the purchase of gift certificates that will be redeemed at their stores.

Method and apparatus for generating gift certificates

A gift certificate dispensing device having an internal machine-readable indicia reader is disclosed for printing and dispensing a certificate either based upon payment by a user or upon the insertion of a pre-paid form into a slot in communication with the scanner. A plurality of gift certificate dispensing devices can be connected in a network under the control of a central processing unit. The central processing unit identifies and keeps track of all the certificates within the network by way of indicia disposed on the certificates, which are scanned by each device as they are dispensed therefrom.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

William J Veeneman