Combination Retailing System For Appraising Precious Stones And Metals And Dispensing Gift Cards, Coupons And The Like

Abstract

A system for incentivizing purchases by consumers comprises a kiosk configured to appraise an item having one constituent selected from the group consisting of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a precious metal, and a semi-precious metal. A composition of the item is determined using an evaluating device. A cash value is associated with the item using data obtained by the evaluating device and market data obtained over a network, and an exchange value of the item is determined by subtracting a processing fee from the cash value. At least one of the cash value and the exchange value is relayed to the consumer on an output device. The consumer is asked to select via an input device between at least a first offer and a second offer in exchange for the item.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for retailers to incentivize purchases by consumers, the method comprising a transaction kiosk performing steps:
 a. physically receiving an item to be appraised from a consumer, the item having at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a precious metal, and a semi-precious metal;   b. determining a composition of the item using an evaluating device;   c. associating a cash value with the item using data obtained by the evaluating device and market data obtained over a network;   d. determining an exchange value of the item by subtracting from the cash value a processing fee;   e. relaying to the consumer on an output device at least one of the cash value of the item and the exchange value of the item; and   f. asking the consumer to select via an input device between at least a first offer and a second offer in exchange for the item;   wherein the first offer includes a first article associated with a first retailer;   wherein the second offer includes a second article associated with a second retailer;   wherein a monetary value of at least one of the first article and the second article is greater than the exchange value of the item.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monetary value of the first article is different from the monetary value of the second article. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first article is a first gift card; and   the second article is a second gift card.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first offer and the second offer includes a coupon. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the kiosk is placed within a shopping center comprising the first retailer and the second retailer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein each of the monetary value of the first gift card and the monetary value of the second gift card is greater than the exchange value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the monetary value of at least one of the first gift card and the second gift card is equal to the cash value. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first retailer and the second retailer is an online retailer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the evaluating device uses at least one evaluating technique selected from the group consisting of frequency testing, thermal conductivity testing, electrical conductivity testing, spectroscopy, and infrared reflectance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the evaluating technique is selected based on an input by the consumer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the evaluating device comprises an x-ray fluorescence tester having a source and a detector. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the market data obtained over the network is specific to a predetermined geographical location. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of having a jeweler remotely validate the cash value of the item. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of offering to the consumer in exchange for the item a third offer; and wherein:
 the third offer includes a third article associated with a third retailer;   a monetary value of the third article is different from the monetary value of the first article and the second article.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first article is further associated with a third retailer and a fourth retailer; and   the second article is further associated with a fifth retailer and a sixth retailer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the processing fee includes a safety factor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of offering the consumer in exchange for the item a cash offer; and wherein:
 the cash offer includes monies equal to the exchange value.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cash value and the exchange value are relayed to the consumer. 
     
     
         19 . A system for increasing traffic in a shopping center, the system comprising a transaction kiosk, the transaction kiosk configured to:
 a. appraise an item physically received from a consumer, the item having at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a precious metal, and a semi-precious metal;   b. determine a composition of the item using an evaluating device;   c. associate a cash value with the item using data obtained by the evaluating device and market data obtained over a network;   d. determine an exchange value of the item by subtracting from the cash value a processing fee;   e. relay the exchange value of the item to the consumer; and   f. ask the consumer to select between at least a first gift card and a second gift card in exchange for the item;   wherein the first gift card is associated with a first group of retailers that includes a first retailer;   wherein the second gift card is associated with a second group of retailers that excludes the first retailer;   wherein a monetary value of the first gift card is different from a monetary value of the second gift card.   
     
     
         20 . A system for incentivizing purchases by consumers, the system comprising a transaction kiosk configured to:appraise an item physically received from a consumer, the item having at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a precious metal, and a semi-precious metal;
 a. determine a composition of the item using an evaluating device;   b. associate a cash value with the item using data obtained by the evaluating device and market data obtained over a network;   c. determine an exchange value of the item by subtracting from the cash value a processing fee;   d. relay to the consumer on an output device at least one of the exchange value of the item and the cash value of the item; and   e. ask the consumer to select via an input device between at least a first offer, a second offer, and a third offer in exchange for the item;   wherein:
 the first offer includes a first article associated with a first retailer; 
 the second offer includes a second article associated with a second retailer; 
 the third offer includes monies equal to the exchange value; 
 a monetary value of at least one of the first article and the second article is greater than the exchange value of the item.