Method and apparatus for generating purchase incentives based on price differentials
View Patent ↗A technique for customizing purchase incentives, such as discount coupons and the like, based on whether a consumer buys a promoted item or a competitive item, and on the price of the promoted item relative to the competitive item. The invention identifies promoted or competitive products in a consumer's order, and selects an incentive that is appropriate for the price differential between the promoted and competitive items, and for the purchase choice already made between the promoted and competitive items. a different incentive is provided for the different pricing and choice combinations, in an effort to maximize sales for the promoted item, and the different incentives are stored in an incentive matrix accessed by product purchased and by consumer profile as determined from whether the consumer bought the more expensive item, the less expensive item, or one of two equally priced items.
1. A system, comprising:
storage means for storing incentive data;
means for selecting incentive data from said storage means depending upon (1) purchase of a first item, (2) a price of said first item, and (3) a price for a second item; and
wherein said storage means (1) stores first incentive data defining a first incentive associated with a purchase of said first item and (2) stores second incentive data defining a second incentive for purchase of said first item, and said means for selecting selects said first incentive data or said second incentive data, depending upon said price of said first item and said price of second item.
2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising means for providing an incentive based upon the selected incentive data to a purchaser of the first item.
3. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a printer for printing an incentive based upon the selected incentive data.
4. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a printer at a point of sale for printing an incentive for a purchaser of the first item in response to the purchase of said first item and based upon the selected incentive data.
5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said means for selecting selects incentive data based upon a difference in price between said first item and said second item.
6. A system comprising:
storage means for storing incentive data:
means for selecting incentive data from said storage means depending upon (1) purchase of a first item. (2) a price of said first item, and (3) a price for a second item: and
7. A computer implemented method comprising the steps of:
storing incentive data;
selecting incentive data from the stored incentive data depending upon (1) purchase of a first item, (2) a price of said first item, and (3) a price for a second item; and
wherein said step of storing (1) stores first incentive data defining a first incentive associated with a purchase of said first item and (2) stores second incentive data defining a second incentive for purchase of said first item, and said step of selecting selects said first incentive data or said second incentive data, depending upon said price of said first item and said price of said second item.
8. A method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of providing an incentive based upon the selected incentive data to a purchaser of said first item.
9. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of printing from a printer an incentive based upon the selected incentive data.
10. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of printing from a printer at a point of sale an incentive for a purchaser of said first item in response to the purchase of said first item and based upon the selected incentive data.
11. The method according to claim 7 wherein said step of selecting selects incentive data based upon a difference in price between said first item and said second item.
12. A computer implemented method comprising the steps of: storing incentive data:
selecting incentive data from the stored incentive data depending upon (1) purchase of a first item, (2) a price of said first item, and (3) a price for a second item; and wherein said first item and said second item are competitive items.