Patent ID: 7831470

Claim:
A method, comprising: receiving an indication that a customer initiated a checkout process to consummate purchase of at least one item from a merchant via a web site, the at least one item having an associated total price for only the at least one item, in response to the received indication, transmitting a web page including an indication of the at least one item to be purchased, an indication of the associated total price for the at least one item, a first selectable button associated with a first option for the customer to pay the associated total price for the at least one item, and a second selectable button associated with a second option for the customer to receive an offer for a reduction of the associated total price; after transmitting the web page, receiving a signal indicating selection by the customer of the second selectable button of the web page; in response to the received signal, automatically selecting by a computer device, from a database that includes a plurality of offers, an offer for a reduction in the total price in exchange for applying for a credit card account with a credit card issuer, in which the credit card issuer is not the merchant; after receiving the signal, providing the selected offer to the customer via the web site before the at least one item is purchased, whereby the selected offer is not provided to the customer unless and until the signal indicating selection by the customer of the second selectable button of the web page is received; after receiving the signal and before the at least one item is purchased, receiving, from the customer, an indication of willingness to apply for a credit card account; and after receiving the signal, selling, by the merchant, the at least one item to the customer for less than the total price in accordance with the selected offer.