System and method for selling perishable products

Abstract

An exemplary system and method are provided to sell a plurality of limited perishable products. The method may include offering to sell the first perishable product at first defined conditions that include an initial price and a minimum refund schedule; or an initial price, an incentive relative to another offer to sell the product, and a purchaser agreement to receive a directed offer. The method may include receiving an acceptance from a first purchaser; and making the first perishable product again available for sale if a first refund opportunity is exercised by purchaser. The method may include determining and offering a directed offer related to the first perishable product that may include a hold incentive or a release incentive option. The method may continue for additional products of the limited perishable products that are of the same (or similar) type and each having the same (or similar) expiration date.

1 . A method for a seller to sell a plurality of limited perishable products using one or more computer systems, each one of the plurality of limited perishable products of the same or similar type and each one having an expiration date, the method comprising:
 determining an initial price at a first time to sell a first perishable product of the plurality of limited perishable products;   determining a minimum refund schedule for the first perishable product that includes at least a first refund opportunity with a first minimum refund amount that may be elected by a purchaser during a first refund time period for the first perishable product;   offering to sell the first perishable product at first defined conditions that include at least the initial price and the minimum refund schedule for the first perishable product;   receiving an acceptance from a first purchaser of the offer to sell the first perishable product at the first defined conditions;   making the first perishable product again available for sale if the first refund opportunity with the first minimum refund amount is elected during the first refund time period for the first perishable product;   determining a demand for at least one of the plurality of limited perishable products at a time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the first perishable product at the first defined conditions;   determining a directed offer related to the first perishable product that is based at least in part upon the determined demand for one of the plurality of limited perishable products at the time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the first perishable product, wherein the directed offer includes at least one of the following from a group that consists of a hold incentive option and a release incentive option;   offering the directed offer related to the first perishable product to the first purchaser, and the directed offer may be accepted by the first purchaser;   buying back the first perishable product from the first purchaser if the directed offer related to the first perishable product is accepted and the directed offer related to the first perishable product includes the release incentive option;   determining an initial price at a second time to sell a second perishable product of the plurality of limited perishable products;   determining a minimum refund schedule for the second perishable product that includes at least a first refund opportunity with a first minimum refund amount that may be elected by a purchaser during a first refund time period for the second perishable product;   offering to sell the second perishable product at second defined conditions that include at least the initial price and the minimum refund schedule for the second perishable product;   receiving an acceptance from a second purchaser of the offer to sell the second perishable product at the second defined conditions;   making the second perishable product once again available for sale if the first refund opportunity with the first minimum refund amount for the second perishable product is elected during the first refund time period for the second perishable product;   determining a demand for at least one of the plurality of limited perishable products at a time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the second perishable product at the second defined conditions;   determining a directed offer related to the second perishable product that is based at least in part upon the determined demand for one of the plurality of limited perishable products at the time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the second perishable product, wherein the directed offer related to the second perishable product includes at least one of the following from a group that consists of a hold incentive option and a release incentive option;   offering the directed offer related to the second perishable product to the second purchaser; and   buying back the second perishable product from the second purchaser if the directed offer related to the second perishable product is accepted and the directed offer related to the second perishable product includes the release incentive option.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first perishable product includes one from the group that consists of an airline ticket, a concert ticket, a sporting event ticket, a ticket to a live event, a train ticket, a theatre ticket, a ticket to a movie, a hotel room reservation, an option to buy real estate that expires at a future time, an option to invest in a time-share real estate that expires at a future time, an option to buy an investment security that expires at a future time, an option to buy personal property that expires at a future time, an item that is to be auctioned at a future time, a scheduled medical procedure, a scheduled use of medical diagnostic equipment, a car rental reservation, a rental reservation for an object, and an appointment to see a professional. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of limited perishable products of the same or similar type includes one from the group that consists of a plurality of airline tickets on the same flight, a plurality of airline tickets of the same class on the same flight, a plurality of coach class airline tickets on the same flight, a plurality of airline tickets on a plurality of flights to a same destination on a plurality of dates, a plurality of airline tickets on a plurality of flights to a same destination on the same day, a plurality of concert tickets for the same show on the same date, a plurality of concert tickets to a performance on a plurality of dates, a plurality of event tickets on the same date, and a plurality of event tickets to a performance on a plurality of dates. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the directed offer and offering the directed offer related to the first perishable product includes determining the hold incentive option that includes:
 determining that the demand has decreased by a certain amount for one of the plurality of limited perishable products at a time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the first perishable product and before the end of a final refund time period for the first perishable product;   offering the first purchaser the hold incentive option to encourage the first purchaser not to accept the refund opportunity with a minimum refund amount.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the hold incentive option includes at least one from the group that consists of an airline mileage credit in an airline promotional program, a discount on a product that is complementary to the first perishable product, a free product, a discount on a product, a discount on a service that is complementary to the first perishable product, a free service, a discount on a service, a voucher, and a gift card. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the release incentive option includes at least one from the group that consists of a full refund, a refund in an amount greater than the minimum refund schedule amount, a refund in an amount greater than the initial price, a voucher, an airline mileage credit in an airline promotional program, an exchange for another product or service of equal value to the initial price, an exchange for another product or service, a gift card, a free product or service, and a item of value to the purchaser. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first minimum refund amount includes one from the group that consists of a refund in an amount greater than the initial price, a refund in an amount less than the initial price, a cash payment, a voucher, a gift card, an airline mileage credit in an airline promotional program, an exchange for another product or service of equal value to the initial price, an exchange for another product or service of greater value to the initial price, and an exchange for another product or service of lesser value to the initial price. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the minimum refund schedule for the first perishable product includes the first refund opportunity that includes the first refund time period with multiple time periods defined therein, and wherein the first minimum refund amount includes multiple minimum refund amounts defined therein and corresponding to the multiple time periods of the first refund time period. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time is the same as the second time. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the directed offer is determined at least in part based upon a profile of the first purchaser, and wherein the profile includes information about the first purchaser. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the minimum refund schedule for the first perishable product further includes an offer to exchange the perishable product for a different perishable product. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first refund opportunity includes the minimum refund schedule for the first perishable product and the possibility for the first minimum refund amount to be more valuable than the initial price based on chance. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the demand for one of the plurality of limited perishable products includes considerations of at least one of the following from the group that consists of:
 historical demand,   current demand,   current inquiries,   pricing requests, and   current perishable product inventory levels.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 offering to sell the first perishable product at a second initial price without the first defined conditions.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expiration date is the date of an event. 
   
   
       16 . A computer system for selling perishable products, the system comprising:
 at least one processor and at least one information storage media operable to execute instructions for a seller to sell a plurality of limited perishable products, each one of the plurality of limited perishable products of the same or similar type and each one having an expiration date, the at least one processor and the at least one information storage media further operable to execute instructions that include:   determining an initial price at a first time to sell a first perishable product of the plurality of limited perishable products;   determining a minimum refund schedule for the first perishable product that includes at least a first refund opportunity with a first minimum refund amount that may be elected by a purchaser during a first refund time period for the first perishable product;   offering to sell the first perishable product at first defined conditions that include at least the initial price and the minimum refund schedule for the first perishable product;   receiving an acceptance from a first purchaser of the offer to sell the first perishable product at the first defined conditions;   making the first perishable product again available for sale if the first refund opportunity with the first minimum refund amount is elected during the first refund time period for the first perishable product;   determining a demand for at least one of the plurality of limited perishable products at a time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the first perishable product at the first defined conditions;   determining a directed offer related to the first perishable product that is based at least in part upon the determined demand for one of the plurality of limited perishable products at the time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the first perishable product, wherein the directed offer includes at least one of the following from a group that consists of a hold incentive option and a release incentive option;   offering the directed offer related to the first perishable product to the first purchaser, and the directed offer may be accepted by the first purchaser;   buying back the first perishable product from the first purchaser if the directed offer related to the first perishable product includes the release incentive option that is accepted;   determining an initial price at a second time to sell a second perishable product of the plurality of limited perishable products;   determining a minimum refund schedule for the second perishable product that includes at least a first refund opportunity with a first minimum refund amount that may be elected by a purchaser during a first refund time period for the second perishable product;   offering to sell the second perishable product at second defined conditions that include at least the initial price and the minimum refund schedule for the second perishable product;   receiving an acceptance from a second purchaser of the offer to sell the second perishable product at the second defined conditions;   making the second perishable product once again available for sale if the first refund opportunity with the first minimum refund amount for the second perishable product is elected during the first refund time period for the second perishable product;   determining a demand for at least one of the plurality of limited perishable products at a time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the second perishable product at the second defined conditions;   determining a directed offer related to the second perishable product that is based at least in part upon the determined demand for one of the plurality of limited perishable products at the time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the second perishable product, wherein the directed offer related to the second perishable product includes at least one of the following from a group that consists of a hold incentive option and a release incentive option;   offering the directed offer related to the second perishable product to the second purchaser; and   buying back the second perishable product from the second purchaser if the directed offer related to the second perishable product includes the release incentive option that is accepted.   
   
   
       17 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the expiration date is the date of an event. 
   
   
       18 . A method for a seller to sell a plurality of limited perishable products using one or more computer systems, each one of the plurality of limited perishable products of the same or similar type and each one having an expiration date, the method comprising:
 determining an initial price at a first time to sell a first perishable product of the plurality of limited perishable products;   offering to sell the first perishable product at first defined conditions that include at least (i) the initial price, and (ii) an incentive offer to sell the first perishable product that includes a purchaser agreement to receive at least one directed offer related to the first perishable product via an authorized communications medium;   receiving an acceptance from a first purchaser of the offer to sell the first perishable product at the first defined conditions;   determining a demand for at least one of the plurality of limited perishable products at a time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the first perishable product at the first defined conditions;   determining a directed offer related to the first perishable product that is based at least in part upon the determined demand for one of the plurality of limited perishable products at the time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the first perishable product, wherein the directed offer includes at least one of the following from a group that consists of a hold incentive option and a release incentive option;   offering the directed offer related to the first perishable product to the first purchaser via the authorized communications medium, and the directed offer may be accepted by the first purchaser;   buying back the first perishable product from the first purchaser if the directed offer related to the first perishable product includes the release incentive option that is accepted;   determining an initial price at a second time to sell a second perishable product of the plurality of limited perishable products;   offering to sell the second perishable product at second defined conditions that include at least (i) the initial price, and (ii) an incentive offer to sell the second perishable product that includes a purchaser agreement to receive at least one directed offer related to the second perishable product via an authorized communications medium;   receiving an acceptance from a second purchaser of the offer to sell the second perishable product at the second defined conditions;   determining a demand for at least one of the plurality of limited perishable products at a time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the second perishable product at the second defined conditions;   determining a directed offer related to the second perishable product that is based at least in part upon the determined demand for one of the plurality of limited perishable products at the time after the acceptance of the offer to sell the second perishable product, wherein the directed offer includes at least one of the following from a group that consists of a hold incentive option and a release incentive option;   offering the directed offer related to the second perishable product to the second purchaser via the authorized communications medium; and   buying back the second perishable product from the second purchaser if the directed offer related to the second perishable product includes the release incentive option that is accepted.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first time is the same as the second time. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the incentive offer includes one or more from the group that consists of reduced initial price, a coupon, airline miles, an upgrade, a complementary product, enhanced services, credit towards future purchases, loyalty points, a rebate, and a gift card. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the authorized communications medium is one from the group consisting of email communications, text messaging, electronic communications, web-based communications, data communications, and telephony based communications. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the expiration date is the date of an event. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the expiration date for the first perishable product and the second perishable product are similar.