AU2014100304A4

AU2014100304A4 - An on-line gamification’ pricing model facility that allows the user to input offers into a text box and then either ‘wins’ or loses’ a reward based on a blind ‘reserve’ input by the site administrator.

Info

Publication number: AU2014100304A4
Application number: AU2014100304A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lindsay Harris; Babak Sanayei
Original assignee: AUTOMOTIVE SUPERSTORE Pty Ltd
Current assignee: AUTOMOTIVE SUPERSTORE Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-03-27
Filing date: 2014-03-27
Publication date: 2014-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-27

Abstract

"Make an offer" is a 'gamification' pricing model available on the client's Automotive Superstore Website. The facility allows for the user to input offers into a text box and then either 'wins' or loses' a reward based on a blind 'reserve' price input by the site administration. For example, a user may be browsing for a particular product on the website which is advertised for a set price. If this product also has the "Make an Offer" feature icon set up on the product, this indicates to the user that the gaming price feature is available to the user. The user then has the option of making an offer for the product to try and get it at a cheaper price than the regular set price. The user is given three chances to get the price right and if the blind reserve is reached wins the product at the offered price. If not, the user is given a consolation prize and is offered the product at the regular set price.

Description

1 MAKE AN OFFER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0001] "Make an offer" is a gaming (gamification) pricing model available on the client's Automotive Superstore Website. The facility allows for the user to input offers into a text box & then either 'wins' or loses' a reward based on a blind 'reserve' price input by the site administration. For example, a user may be browsing for a particular product on the website which is advertised for a set price. If this product also has the "Make an Offer" feature icon set up on the product, this indicates to the user that the gaming price feature is available to the user. [0002] The user then has the option of making an offer for the product to try and get it at a cheaper price than the regular set price. The user is given three chances to get the right price and if the blind reserve is reached wins the product at the offered price. If the right price at or above reserve is not reached, the user is given a consolation prize and is offered the product at the regular set price. [0003] "Make an Offer" is a system unique to Automotive Superstore. It allows customers to get the best deals on products in a fun and engaging way. "Make an offer" has 3 main aspects as detailed below. 1) More efficient price matching [0004] In the current online and retail shopping experience price matching is still very much a manual process where the buyer haggles the seller in order to try to get a better deal. This is either done in person, over the phone or via email. This system allows for this to be done 2 without the need for the buyer to interact with the sales staff. The buyer can instantly propose a price and get an answer. 2) Engaging user experience [0005] Many consumers actually enjoy the process of haggling for a deal and like to brag about getting a great deal. The "Make an Offer" system is designed to capture this aspect of price matching. 3) 'Gamification' of the sales process [0006] The final aspect of this system uses techniques commonly found in video games. The customer is given 3 "lives", so to speak, to propose an acceptable price. This creates a sense of risk vs reward and creates a scenario that challenges a user to try and get a great deal. However, if the user is greedy and makes only very low offers they may not get anything at all. This balancing act is used extensively in video games and poker machines. The system is unique in the market place and is unlike an auction [0007] The "Make on Offer" system varies from an auction in many ways. The very definition of an auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder. - There is no timeframe. - The item is sold at a price which may not be the highest price. In fact many customers may buy the same item and all at prices lower than advertised.

3 The price offers our customers make are private and they are only seen by us. "Make an Offer" is a one to one transaction while auctions are one to many. [0008] On selected products, Automotive Superstore can enable the "Make an Offer" feature. When users browse the product catalogue, these products will have a "Make an Offer" icon displayed, as shown in 'Diagram 1' on page 1 of the Drawings document. Users are required to be logged in so we can stop people cheating the system.

Claims

1. A facility that allows users to input offers into a text box as part of the sales process and then either 'wins' or loses' a reward based on a blind 'reserve' price input by the site administration.

2. A facility according to claim 1 in which the user is given three chances to get the right price and if the blind reserve is reached wins the product at the offered price.

3. If the user does not reach the reserve price or higher according to claim 2, the user misses out on getting the product at a lower price but is given a consolation prize for participating and is offered the product at the regular set price instead.

4. A facility according to the previous claims that allows users to try and get a better deal on a product without the need for the buyer to interact with the sales staff where the buyer can instantly propose a price and get an answer.

5. The process of 'gamification' according to any of the previous claims which uses techniques commonly found in video games that creates a sense of risk vs reward and creates a scenario that challenges a user to try and get a great deal.