Patent ID: 7343298

Claim:
A method for supplying a new expendable by a computer, the new expendable being packaged in a new expendable container, the method comprising the steps of: (a) accepting an inquiry regarding supply of the new expendable, the inquiry including expendable-related information indicative of a model of an expendable container possessed by a user; (b) determining a first type price at which the new expendable is to be supplied on condition that the expendable container possessed by the user is returned in response to the inquiry; (c) displaying the first type price to the user; (d) accepting a first type order from the user, the first type order generating a charge amount at the first type price on condition that the expendable container possessed by the user is returned; and (e) supplying the new expendable in exchange for the expendable container possessed by the user in response to the first type order; wherein the expendable-related information further includes information indicative of a remaining amount of expendable remaining in the expendable container and unsealing date information indicative of an unsealing date of the expendable; and the step (c) further includes the steps of: selecting at least one new expendable from a plurality of types of expendables of different volume based on the remaining amount information; and displaying the selected new expendable as a recommended expendable.