SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FUNDS PROCESSING IN POSTAGE DISTRIBUTION ENVIRONMENTS
Provided herein are systems and methods for processing funds in distribution environments such as internet-based postage distribution environments. In exemplary embodiments, incentive programs are administered and managed within the system. These incentive programs can include discount programs, rebate programs and revenue sharing programs.
1 . A method of issuing a discount to a United States Postal Service (USPS) customer in an internet-based postage distribution environment, comprising:
performing a postage transaction for a customer at a postage distribution vendor, comprising:
receiving a postage request from the customer over an internet communication channel, wherein the request is for data corresponding to a postage indicium having a postage value amount associated therewith;
verifying that the customer has sufficient balance in a postage account to allow a transfer of the postage indicium data to the customer; and
electronically transmitting the postage indicium data from the vendor to the customer; and
issuing a discount to the customer, wherein the discount is at least in part based on the postage transaction.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the postage transaction further comprises:
decreasing the customer's account balance by the postage value amount; and
electronically transmitting a first record of the customer's account balance to the USPS subsequent to decreasing the balance.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein issuing the discount to the customer comprises:
increasing the customer's account balance by an amount corresponding to the discount; and
electronically transmitting a second record of the customer's account balance to the USPS subsequent to increasing the balance.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the second record comprises information indicating that the increased account balance results from a funds-less account operation.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the second record comprises a field indicating that the increased account balance corresponds to a discount.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the account balance is greater than the postage amount value.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the balance in the customer's account is a result of a postage purchase transaction funds transfer.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of postage transactions are performed with the customer and the discount is issued based on the plurality of postage transactions.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the discount is at least in part based on the volume of the plurality of postage transactions.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the discount is at least in part based on the aggregate value of the plurality of postage transactions.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the discount is at least in part based on the mail class for each of the plurality of postage transactions.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the discount is issued retroactively.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
printing a postage indicium corresponding to the postage indicium data for a mail piece, wherein the postage indicium comprises a text display corresponding to the standard rate of postage for that mail piece.
14 . The method of 13 , wherein the text display is the standard rate.
15 . The method of 13 , wherein the text display is the full postage value amount.
16 . A method of revenue sharing in a postal distribution environment, comprising:
performing a postage transaction for a customer at a postage distribution vendor, comprising:
receiving a postage request from the customer at the vendor;
applying a monetary representation towards the postage request, wherein the monetary representation corresponds to funds transferred from the customer through the vendor to a postal authority; and
electronically transmitting data corresponding to a postal indicia from the vendor to the customer in response to the request; and
receiving a revenue share at the vendor based on the postage transaction, wherein the revenue share is from the postal authority.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the revenue share is based on a volume of postage purchased by the customer.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the revenue share is based on classes of postage purchased by the customer.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the revenue share is based on a volume of postage purchased by an aggregate number of customers.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the revenue share is based on a volume and class of postage purchased by the customer.
21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the vendor receives the revenue share by retaining a portion of the funds transferred from the customer in the amount of the revenue share.
22 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the vendor receives the revenue share by transferring funds in the amount of the revenue share from the postal authority to a vendor account.
23 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising transferring a portion of the revenue share from the vendor to the customer.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the portion of the revenue share is transferred to the customer in the form of credit that can be applied to future postage purchases.
25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the portion of the revenue share is transferred to the customer in the form of free products, discounted products and/or reward points.
26 . A method of managing incentive program schedules in a postal distribution environment, comprising:
performing a postage transaction for a customer at a postage distribution vendor, comprising:
receiving a postage request from the customer at the vendor;
applying a monetary representation towards the postage request, wherein the monetary representation corresponds to funds transferred from the customer through the vendor to a postal authority; and
electronically transmitting data corresponding to a postal indicia from the vendor to the customer in response to the request;
applying an incentive program schedule to the postage transaction at the vendor to determine an incentive for which the customer qualifies; and
collecting a service fee at the vendor for managing the incentive program schedule.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the customer qualifies for a discount and wherein the vendor collects the service fee by deducting the service fee from the discount for which the customer qualifies.
28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the customer qualifies for a rebate and wherein the vendor collects the service fee by deducting the service fee from the rebate for which the customer qualifies.
29 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the vendor collects the service fee by having the postal authority pay the service fee to the vendor.
30 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the postal authority pays the service fee by transferring funds in the amount of the service fee from the postal authority to a vendor account.
31 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the vendor collects the service fee by charging the customer directly for the service fee.
32 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the incentive program schedule includes a incentive based on volume of postage purchased by the customer.
33 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the incentive program schedule includes an incentive based on a class of postage purchased by the customer.
34 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the incentive program schedule includes an incentive based on a volume of postage purchased by an aggregate number of customers.
35 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the incentive program schedule includes an incentive based on a volume and class of postage purchased by the customer.
36 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the incentive program schedule is established by the postal authority.
37 . A method in a postal distribution environment, comprising:
performing a postage transaction for a customer at a postage distribution vendor, comprising:
receiving a postage request from the customer at the vendor;
applying a monetary representation towards the postage request, wherein the monetary representation corresponds to funds transferred from the customer through the vendor to a postal authority; and
electronically transmitting data corresponding to a postal indicia from the vendor to the customer in response to the request; and
charging a service fee for the postage transaction;
integrating the service fee with a postage charge charged by a postal authority into a single purchase amount; and
presenting the single purchase amount to the customer.
38 . The method of claim 37 , further comprising:
reporting the postage transaction to the postal authority, comprising:
transmitting a first transaction from the vendor to the postal authority in the amount of the postage charge; and
transmitting a second transaction from the vendor to the postal authority in the amount of the service fee; and
maintaining a record of the service fee at the postal authority based on the first and second transactions.
39 . The method of claim 38 , further comprising transferring funds from the postal authority to a vendor account in the amount of the service fee.
40 . The method of claim 37 , further comprising:
reporting the postage transaction to the postal authority by transmitting a transaction from the vendor to the postal authority in the amount of the single purchase amount, wherein the transaction includes an indicator indicating a portion of the single purchase amount to be applied to the service fee; and
maintaining a record of the service fee at the postal authority based on the received transaction.
41 . The method of claim 40 , further comprising transferring funds from the postal authority to a vendor account in the amount of the service fee.
42 . A method of issuing a rebate to a United States Postal Service (USPS) customer in an internet-based postage distribution environment, comprising:
performing a postage transaction for a customer at a postage distribution vendor, comprising:
receiving a postage request from the customer over an internet communication channel, wherein the request is for data corresponding to a postage indicium having a postage value amount associated therewith;
verifying that the customer has sufficient balance in a postage account to allow a transfer of the postage indicium data to the customer; and
electronically transmitting the postage indicium data from the vendor to the customer; and
issuing a rebate to the customer, wherein the rebate is at least in part based on the postage transaction.
43 . The method of claim 42 , wherein performing the postage transaction further comprises:
decreasing the customer's account balance by the postage value amount; and
electronically transmitting a first record of the customer's account balance to the USPS subsequent to decreasing the balance.
44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein issuing the rebate to the customer comprises:
increasing the customer's account balance by an amount corresponding to the rebate; and
electronically transmitting a second record of the customer's account balance to the USPS subsequent to increasing the balance.
45 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the second record comprises information indicating that the increased account balance results from a funds-less account operation.
46 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the second record comprises a field indicating that the increased account balance corresponds to a rebate.
47 . The method of claim 46 , wherein the account balance is greater than the postage amount value.
48 . The method of claim 46 , wherein the balance in the customer's account is a result of a postage purchase transaction funds transfer.
49 . The method of claim 42 , wherein a plurality of postage transactions are performed with the customer and the rebate is issued based on the plurality of postage transactions.
50 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the rebate is at least in part based on the volume of the plurality of postage transactions.
51 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the rebate is at least in part based on the aggregate value of the plurality of postage transactions.
52 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the rebate is at least in part based on the mail class for each of the plurality of postage transactions.
53 . The method of claim 42 , further comprising:
printing a postage indicium corresponding to the postage indicium data for a mail piece, wherein the postage indicium comprises a text display corresponding to the standard rate of postage for that mail piece.
54 . The method of 53 , wherein the text display is the standard rate.
55 . The method of 53 , wherein the text display is the full postage value amount.