Patent ID: 7831478

Claim:
A computer implemented method for generating an order for a product, comprising: receiving requests to order a product from a customer that include a product code that identifies the product and a customer identification that identifies the customer; establishing a retail mark-up associated with the product; establishing a distributor-specific mark-up associated with the product, wherein the distributor-specific mark-up is discounted as compared to the retail mark-up; determining that the customer qualifies for the distributor-specific mark-up based on the customer identification, wherein the customer is other than a retail consumer; receiving financial authorization from a third party regarding customer payment for the product; in response to determining the customer qualifies for the distributor-specific mark-up, retrieving information for the product including a customer price, wherein retrieving the customer price comprises: retrieving a product price for the product; retrieving a distributor-specific mark-up for the product, in response to determining that the customer qualifies for a discount; and calculating the customer price as a function of the product price and the distributor-specific mark-up; placing an order with the manufacturer of the product based upon the information; and completing a purchase of the product in accordance with the order placed with the manufacturer including arranging for shipping directly to the customer by the manufacturer and payment of a portion of the customer price to the distributor even though the order is originated, received and fulfilled in a manner independent of the distributor.