Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the sale of commodity-like goods/services

Abstract

The invention provides systems and methods for facilitating the sale of commodity-like goods/services. The commodity-like goods/services at which the invention is directed, are of a type that are relatively indistinguishable from one brand, identity and/or outlet to another in end-use functionality and features. These types of goods/services are many times sold at retail under various brands or identities at multiple locations, to the final end user. Such goods/services may also or separately be of a type that are repeatedly purchased at intervals, and/or for which the price varies between purchases, from outlet to outlet or brand to brand. The goods/services may also be of a character such that they are not deliverable to the consumer, but require the consumer to travel to the retailer outlet. The system and methods also provide information relating to the consumers and competitors of a retailer of such goods/services. The invention establishes methods and procedures to define, organize, collect, distribute, and maintain information that can be used by the owner of a business selling commodity-like goods/services as well as by its customers. This information may include, but is not limited to, name brand of the product, location of the retailer, price of the product, other related goods/services available and their prices, and promotions. These processes may be performed and implemented on a computer network that is accessible in real time via a suitable communication device, such as a computer, wireless communication device, telephone or the like. A database of such information is created, allowing the consumer and other retailers to query the database using various search criteria. The consumer has the opportunity to obtain information about retailers of commodity-like goods/services that meet the consumer's requirements, and pricing may be guaranteed by the retailer.

1 . A method for generating a database relating to goods/services sold via retail outlets, comprising the steps of: 
 a) prompting a retailer to input its own information related to its own retail outlet selected from the group consisting of vehicle fuel outlets, vehicle servicing outlets, convenience food stores and combinations thereof,    b) storing said input information from the retailer, wherein said database includes information, relating to individual retailers within said plurality of retailers, selected from the group consisting of location of retail outlet, brand information, real-time price information, goods sold, services offered, special promotions on goods/services, retailer guarantees for current prices on goods/services or combinations thereof in a computer readable storage medium, said real-time price information being restricted to current price information input by said retailer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of allowing a user to pre-determine from said database a subset of outlets within a geographical region, which subset is displayed to the user upon entry of user-identifying information.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of allowing a user to pre-determine from said database a subset of competitor outlets within a geographical region, which subset is displayed to the retailer upon entry of user-identifying information.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the source of said input information is a retailer of vehicle fuel goods/services.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said input information is directly downloaded by a retailer into an electronic database.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said information is input to said computer readable storage medium through a global information system.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said information is substantially real time information relating to vehicle fuel goods/services supplied by said retailer.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said information is real time price information relating to vehicle fuel goods/services.  
     
     
         9 . A method of providing a guaranteed price from a retailer in the sale of goods/services, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing predetermined information to a consumer relating to at least the real-time price of goods/services presently being offered by a predetermined retailer,    b) providing to said consumer a predetermined price guarantee from the predetermined retailer, related to at least the real-time price of goods/services, which is authenticated by the retailer at a predetermined retail location, and    c) the retailer honoring the predetermined price guarantee upon purchase of the goods/services at the predetermined retail locations.    
     
     
         10 . A method for acquiring and disseminating information relating to vehicle fuels, the method comprising the steps of: 
 prompting a retailer to input information related to current vehicle fuel prices;    restricting the retailer to inputting vehicle fuel price information relating to only the retailer's vehicle fuel prices;    storing the current vehicle fuel price information inputted by a plurality of retailers in a common database;    prompting a consumer to input search criteria; and    displaying at least current retailer vehicle fuel price information and retailer geographic information in response to the consumer search criteria.    
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of prompting a retailer includes prompting the retailer to input information relating to a guaranteed vehicle fuel price, the guarantee being provided by the retailer, and the step of displaying includes displaying information relating to the price guarantees.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the price guarantees are offered for a limited time.