AU737228B3

AU737228B3 - A commerce system

Info

Publication number: AU737228B3
Application number: AU43763/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Francis Arthur Pembroke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-29
Filing date: 2000-06-29
Publication date: 2001-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2006-06-29

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT Name of Applicants: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: SIMON DUNCAN MURRAY BRITTON FRANCIS ARTHUR PEMBROKE FRANCIS ARTHUR PEMBROKE CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

A COMMERCE SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: A METHOD OF TRADING FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to methods of trading BACKGROUND ART There are innumerable methods of trading which provide members with discounts, bonus credits, and the like as a result of commercial transactions networking.

One well known and established scheme is that known as

BARTERCARD.

Bartercard membership allows participants to accumulate trade dollars/credits by providing goods or services to participating members.

A common criticism of such schemes however is that often members accumulate credits which because of choice or circumstances they have difficulty in utilising.

It is common to hear of members of such schemes offering credits at a discounted rate or purchasing articles or services which to them there is no real need, merely to use up their credits.

Most business schemes (particularly if they are credit card related) incur cash handling costs as well as annual membership fees.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of training which encourages members to use each other's goods and/or services and which will provide increased business in general for participants.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the assuring description which is given by way of example.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention provides a method a trading which provides participants with the opportunity of discounted purchase on the listed or recommended price of goods, the method including: creating a management entity for recruiting members and managing members advertising.

causing participating merchants to nominate a rebate to be

I

provided by them which is made available to participating members, providing members with discount cards in accordance with the nominated rebate, providing the opportunity for media advertising for goods or services of all members via the internet.

The nominated rebates may be tiered.

The right to a rebate for a member on goods and/or services is initiated by the presentation of a members card.

The accompanying drawing which illustrates typical members identification cards.

The member cards are similar to many credit cards in that information is provided indicating: A card name A card number The discount offered Members name The expiry date of the card The membership scheme offers members discounts in both business and personal expenditure and members benefit from association and substantially reduced prices.

Members pay an annual membership fee and there are no hidden fees, no transactions fees, or monthly fees.

Membership includes advertising for members on the managing entities web site which can be linked to any existing site already in use.

The Internet site will allow the members to update details and promotions and immediately give members accurate up to date information.

To ensure that members receive genuine discounts it will not be necessary for each member to identify himself as such until the price or item for a service to the public in general has been established.

The price and advantages for membership will be in accordance with the level of membership for example levels of membership may range with the level of membership for example levels of membership may range from 10% to 25% which will enable each individual or business to decide at which level it is most comfortable with.

Examples of the application of nominated discounts and trading between members: Member A offers a 25% discount on shoes and member B offers 15% on accountancy fees.

Member B wants to purchase a pair of shoes from member

A.

Member B is granted a 15% discount off the purchase price of the shoes.

In a reciprocal arrangement member A engages member B to carry out financial services and is granted a 15% discount.

Membership levels can be coded and indicated by colour and trading which allows members to give an advantage to others at the level that the other individual or business is willing to offer.

All payments will be way of cash or cheque or equivalent in the event that goods or services are paid by credit card the purchaser will loose of the discount being offered to cover the expense incurred by the vendor for credit card transactions.

It will be the responsibility of the controlling entity to maintain updated records of members goods or services, costs and any special events.

It is considered one of the many advantages of the present invention to be goods or services are paid for in cash or their equivalent.

There are no transaction charges.

Membership and the rules of membership will ensure discounts are genuine.

Aspects of the present invention have been described way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of trading which provides participants including members and merchants with the opportunity of discounted purchaseson the listed price of goods or services, the method including: creating a management entity for recruiting members and managing members advertising. causing merchants to nominate a rebate to be provided by them which is made available for participating members, providing members with discount cards in accordance with the nominated rebate, providing the opportunity for media advertising for goods or services of all members via the internet.

2. A method of trading as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nominated rebates are tiered.

3. A method as claimed in claim or claim 2 wherein the purchasers rebates are initiated by the presentation of a members card. DATED this 15 th day of June 2001 SIMON DUNCAN MURRAY BRITTON FRANCIS ARTHUR PEMBROKE By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.