SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE IN ELECTRONIC COMMERCE
Some embodiments of the invention enable users to manage codes which may be redeemed for value. For example, some embodiments provide systems and methods for automatically identifying a code communicated to a user which is redeemable for value, and adding the code to an inventory maintained for the user. When the user later shops at a site which allows a code to be redeemed for value, some embodiments of the invention may automatically detect when the user has navigated to a page on the site which allows redemption of the code, and may make the user aware that the code may be redeemed on the page. If the user opts to redeem the code, the field on the page into which the code is to be input may be automatically identified, and the code may be automatically input into that field.
1 . A method for use by a first online merchant to encourage a user to purchase goods and/or services from the first online merchant, the method comprising acts of:
(A) determining that the user is presently shopping for goods and/or services with a competitor merchant:
(B) in response to the determining in the act (A), causing the user to be provided an incentive to purchase the goods and/or services from the first online merchant, the incentive comprising a code which may be redeemed by the user for value; and
(C) receiving the user's redemption of the incentive.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user employs a device configured to communicate location information, and wherein the act (A) comprises determining that the user is presently shopping at a competitor offline merchant's location by comparing location information communicated by the device to location information associated with one or more stores operated by the competitor offline merchant.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the location information communicated by the device comprises global positioning system (GPS) information.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user employs a device configured to navigate to a page accessible via the Internet, and wherein the act (A) comprises determining that the user is presently shopping with a competitor online merchant by comparing a characteristic of a page to which the device has navigated to a characteristic of a page operated by the competitor online merchant.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the characteristic of the page to which the device has navigated comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) for the page.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the act (B) comprises communicating the code to the user in a manner designed to capture the user's immediate attention.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the user employs a device executing at least one application configured to issue an alert to the user, and wherein communicating the code to the user in a manner designed to capture the user's immediate attention comprises communicating the code to the user in an alert.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the user employs a device capable of receiving a text message, and wherein communicating the code to the user in a manner designed to capture the user's immediate attention comprises communicating the code to the user in a text message.
9 . At least one computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon which, when executed in a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method comprising acts of:
(A) determining that a user is presently shopping for goods and/or services with a competitor merchant:
(B) in response to the determining in the act (A), causing the user to be provided an incentive to purchase the goods and/or services from a first online merchant, the incentive comprising a code which may be redeemed by the user for value; and
(C) receiving the user's redemption of the incentive.
10 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the user employs a device configured to communicate location information, and wherein the act (A) comprises determining that the user is presently shopping at a competitor offline merchant's location by comparing location information communicated by the device to location information associated with one or more stores operated by the competitor offline merchant.
11 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the location information communicated by the device comprises global positioning system (GPS) information.
12 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the user employs a device configured to navigate to a page accessible via the Internet, and wherein the act (A) comprises determining that the user is presently shopping with a competitor online merchant by comparing a characteristic of a page to which the device has navigated to a characteristic of a page operated by the competitor online merchant.
13 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the characteristic of the page to which the device has navigated comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) for the page.
14 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the act (B) comprises communicating the code to the user in a manner designed to capture the user's immediate attention.
15 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the user employs a device executing at least one application configured to issue an alert to the user, and wherein communicating the code to the user in a manner designed to capture the user's immediate attention comprises communicating the code to the user in an alert.
16 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the user employs a device capable of receiving a text message, and wherein communicating the code to the user in a manner designed to capture the user's immediate attention comprises communicating the code to the user in a text message.
17 . A computer system, comprising:
at least one computer processor, programmed to:
determine that a user is presently shopping for goods and/or services with a merchant that competes with a first merchant;
in response to the determining, cause the user to be provided an incentive to purchase the goods and/or services from the first online merchant, the incentive comprising a code which may be redeemed by the user for value; and
receive the user's redemption of the incentive.
18 . The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the user employs a device configured to communicate location information, and wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed to determine that the user is presently shopping at a location of an offline merchant that competes with the first merchant by comparing location information communicated by the device to location information associated with one or more stores operated by the offline merchant.
19 . The computer system of claim 18 , wherein the location information communicated by the device comprises global positioning system (GPS) information.
20 . The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the user employs a device configured to navigate to a page accessible via the Internet, and wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed to determine that the user is presently shopping with an online merchant that competes with the first merchant by comparing a characteristic of a page to which the device has navigated to a characteristic of a page operated by the online merchant.