Method and apparatus for managing subscriptions
View Patent ↗A subscription system allows a customer to establish a subscription to a product with one or more retailers (e.g., by establishing the subscription through a controller or central system). In one embodiment, a subscription may be established after receiving information that identifies a product. Terms of a subscription for the product are established, such as a frequency and a duration of the subscription.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a controller device from a customer, via a web site, information that identifies a product selected by the customer;
establishing, by the controller device, a subscription of the customer for the product, wherein terms of the subscription include:
a first subscription price of the product,
a first frequency of the subscription that indicates a first period of time,
wherein the customer is required to purchase a unit of the product in the first period of time;
authorizing, by the controller device, purchase by the customer of a unit of the product at the first subscription price;
tracking, by the controller device, a fulfillment of the subscription;
determining, by the controller device, that the customer did not comply with the first frequency that indicates the first period of time;
determining, by the controller device, a modified subscription of the customer for the product, in which terms of the modified subscription include:
a second subscription price of the product,
a second frequency of the subscription that indicates a second period of time,
wherein the customer is required to purchase a unit of the product in the second period of time;
authorizing, by the controller device, purchase by the customer of a unit of the product at the second subscription price; and
tracking, by the controller device, a fulfillment of the modified subscription.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller device is operated by a retailer fulfilling the subscription.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller device comprises a web server.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prompting the customer to provide, via the web site, the information that identifies the product selected by the customer.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first subscription price is less than a retail price of a unit of the product.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first subscription price comprises a discount off of a retail price of a unit of the product.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first subscription price is different than the second subscription price.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is different than the second frequency.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first period of time is different than the second period of time.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an indication of acceptance of the terms of the subscription by the customer.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the customer did not comply with the first frequency that indicates the first period of time comprises:
determining that the customer did not purchase at least one unit of the product during the first period of time.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the customer did not comply with the first frequency that indicates the first period of time comprises:
determining that the customer did not purchase at least one respective unit of the product in each of a plurality of the first periods of time.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the customer did not comply with the first frequency that indicates the first period of time comprises:
receiving from the customer a request to terminate the subscription.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving from the customer a modification request to modify at least one term of the subscription.
15. An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured such that when executed by the processor the instructions direct the processor to perform:
receiving from a customer, via a web site, information that identifies a product selected by the customer;
establishing a subscription of the customer for the product, wherein terms of the subscription include:
a first subscription price of the product,
a first frequency of the subscription that indicates a first period of time,
wherein the customer is required to purchase a unit of the product in the first period of time;
authorizing purchase by the customer of a unit of the product at the first subscription price;
tracking a fulfillment of the subscription;
determining that the customer did not comply with the first frequency that indicates the first period of time;
determining a modified subscription of the customer for the product, in which terms of the modified subscription include:
a second subscription price of the product,
a second frequency of the subscription that indicates a second period of time,
wherein the customer is required to purchase a unit of the product in the second period of time;
authorizing purchase by the customer of a unit of the product at the second subscription price; and
tracking a fulfillment of the modified subscription.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , embodied as a web server.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , the instructions being further configured such that when executed by the processor the instructions direct the processor to perform:
prompting the customer to provide the information that identifies the product via the web site.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first subscription price is less than a retail price of a unit of the product.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first subscription price comprises a discount off of a retail price of a unit of the product.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first subscription price is different than the second subscription price.
21. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first frequency is different than the second frequency.
22. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first period of time is different than the second period of time.
23. The apparatus of claim 15 , the instructions being further configured such that when executed by the processor the instructions direct the processor to perform:
receiving an indication of acceptance of the terms of the subscription by the customer.
24. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein determining that the customer did not comply with the first frequency that indicates the first period of time comprises:
determining that the customer did not purchase at least one unit of the product during the first period of time.
25. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein determining that the customer did not comply with the first frequency that indicates the first period of time comprises:
determining that the customer did not purchase at least one respective unit of the product in each of a plurality of the first periods of time.
26. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein determining that the customer did not comply with the first frequency that indicates the first period of time comprises:
receiving from the customer a request to terminate the subscription.
27. The apparatus of claim 15 , the instructions being further configured such that when executed by the processor the instructions direct the processor to perform:
receiving from the customer a modification request to modify at least one term of the subscription.
28. A non-transitory computer readable storage device storing instructions configured to direct a controller to perform a method, the method comprising:
receiving, by a controller device from a customer, via a web site, information that identifies a product selected by the customer;
establishing, by the controller device, a subscription of the customer for the product, wherein terms of the subscription include:
a first subscription price of the product,
a first frequency of the subscription that indicates a first period of time,
wherein the customer is required to purchase a unit of the product in the first period of time;
authorizing, by the controller device, purchase by the customer of a unit of the product at the first subscription price;
tracking, by the controller device, a fulfillment of the subscription;
determining, by the controller device, that the customer did not comply with the first frequency that indicates the first period of time;
determining, by the controller device, a modified subscription of the customer for the product, in which terms of the modified subscription include:
a second subscription price of the product,
a second frequency of the subscription that indicates a second period of time,
wherein the customer is required to purchase a unit of the product in the second period of time;
authorizing, by the controller device, purchase by the customer of a unit of the product at the second subscription price; and
tracking, by the controller device, a fulfillment of the modified subscription.