System and method for providing a discount

A method for providing a discount to an end-user, comprising the steps of:

• authorizing a client to distribute a virtual currency to the end-user, the virtual currency authorized for distribution to the end-user by an administrator, wherein the administrator is the creator of the virtual currency and wherein the virtual currency has no per unit cost to the client and wherein the end-user does not pay for the virtual currency;
• distributing the virtual currency, the virtual currency distributed by the client to the end-user without any limitation imposed by the administrator on the amount of the virtual currency distributed;
• receiving an end-user request for price information associated with a product or service;
• retrieving a daily price value of the product from a first database;
• retrieving a base price value of the product from a second database;
• calculating, by a computer system, a difference between the retrieved daily price value and the retrieved base price value to determine a margin value;
• allocating, by the computer system, a portion of the margin value to an entity other than the end-user;
• increasing, by the computer system, the base price value by an amount equal to the amount allocated to the entity to determine an adjusted base price value of the product, the adjusted base price value indicative of an amount of actual currency to be paid by the end-user;
• calculating a difference between the retrieved daily price value and the adjusted base price value to determine a savings value of the product, the savings value indicative of an amount of the virtual currency to be paid by the end-user;
• presenting the retrieved daily price value of the product, the adjusted base price value of the product and the savings value of the product to the end-user;
• receiving a first end-user request to purchase the product;
• determining, by the computer system, that the end-user does not have an amount of available virtual currency at least equal to the amount of the savings value;
• calculating, by the computer system, a difference between the amount of the available virtual currency and the amount of the savings value to determine an amount of a virtual currency deficiency;
• notifying the end-user that the amount of the virtual currency deficiency may be paid in actual currency;
• receiving a second end-user request to purchase the product;
• and
• receiving details from the end-user indicating payment of actual currency in an amount at least equal to the adjusted base price value and the amount of the virtual currency deficiency, thereby providing the discount to the end-user.

A method for providing a discount offer to an end-user, comprising the steps of:

• authorizing a client to distribute a virtual currency to the end-user, the virtual currency authorized for distribution to the end-user by an administrator, wherein the administrator is the creator of the virtual currency and wherein the virtual currency has no per unit cost to the client;
• distributing the virtual currency, the virtual currency distributed by the client to the end-user without any limitation imposed by the administrator on the amount of the virtual currency distributed, wherein the end-user does not pay for the virtual currency;
• retrieving a daily price value of a product from a first database;
• retrieving a base price value of the product from a second database;
• calculating, by a computer system, a difference between the retrieved daily price value and the retrieved base price value to determine a margin value;
• allocating, by the computer system, a portion of the margin value to an entity other than the end-user;
• increasing, by the computer system, the base price value by an amount equal to the amount allocated to the entity to determine an adjusted base price value of the product, the adjusted base price value indicative of an amount of actual currency to be paid by the end-user;
• calculating a difference between the retrieved daily price value and the adjusted base price value to determine a savings value of the product, the savings value indicative of an amount of the virtual currency to be paid by the end-user;
• and
• presenting the retrieved daily price value of the product, the adjusted base price value of the product and the savings value of the product to the end-user, thereby providing the discount offer to the end-user.

A computer system for providing a discount to an end-user, comprising:

• a device having a data input and output element, processing circuitry, memory circuitry and an executable program for performing a method comprising the steps of:
• authorizing a client of an administrator to distribute a virtual currency to the end-user, the virtual currency authorized for distribution to the end-user by the administrator, wherein the administrator is the creator of the virtual currency and wherein the virtual currency has no per unit cost to the client;
• distributing the virtual currency, the virtual currency distributed by the client to the end-user without any limitation imposed by the administrator on the amount of the virtual currency distributed, wherein the end-user does not pay for the virtual currency;
• receiving an end-user request for price information associated with a product or service;
• retrieving a daily price value of the product from a first database;
• retrieving a base price value of the product from a second database;
• calculating, by the computer system, a difference between the retrieved daily price value and the retrieved base price value to determine a margin value;
• allocating, by the computer system, a portion of the margin value to an entity other than the end-user;
• increasing, by the computer system, the base price value by an amount equal to the amount allocated to the entity to determine an adjusted base price value of the product, the adjusted base price value indicative of an amount of actual currency to be paid by the end-user;
• calculating a difference between the retrieved daily price value and the adjusted base price value to determine a savings value of the product, the savings value indicative of an amount of the virtual currency to be paid by the end-user;
• presenting the retrieved daily price value of the product, the adjusted base price value of the product and the savings value of the product to the end-user;
• receiving an end-user request to purchase the product;
• determining, by the computer system, that the end-user has an amount of available virtual currency at least equal to the amount of the savings value;
• subtracting, by the computer system, an amount of the virtual currency equal to the presented savings value from the available virtual currency;
• and
• receiving details from the end-user indicating payment of actual currency in an amount at least equal to the adjusted base price value, thereby providing the discount to the end-user.