Patent ID: 7720708
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for a seller to sell a plurality of limited perishable products, each one of the plurality of limited perishable products of the same 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, via a computer, 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, via the computer, 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, via the computer, 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.