Method and system for receiving an item during a precious stone and metal appraisal

A system for increasing traffic in a shopping center, the system comprising:

• a transaction point computer at a retail location configured to:
• appraise an item physically received from a consumer, the item having at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a precious metal, and a semi-precious metal;
• wherein appraising the item includes:
• (a) determining a composition of the item using an evaluating device;
• and
• (b) associating an exchange value with the item using data obtained by the evaluating device and market data obtained over a network;
• in response to physically receiving the item to be appraised from the consumer, automatically ask the consumer via an output device to select for purchase a food product;
• receive a selection of the food product for consumption by the consumer at the retail location;
• deliver the selected food product to the consumer;
• relay the exchange value of the item to the consumer;
• and
• exchange the item for a something of value;
• wherein the transaction point computer is further configured to deliver the food product prior to relaying the exchange value.

A method for appraising an item at a retail location, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of consumer goods at the retail location;
• (b) by a transaction point computer at the retail location:
• (i) physically receiving the item to be appraised from a consumer, the item having at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a precious metal, and a semi-precious metal;
• (ii) in response to physically receiving the item to be appraised from the consumer, automatically asking the consumer via an output device to select for purchase a consumer good;
• (iii) receiving a selection by the consumer of the consumer good;
• (iv) delivering the selected consumer good to the consumer;
• (v) determining a composition of the item using an evaluating device;
• (vi) associating an exchange value with the item using data obtained by the evaluating device and market data obtained over a network;
• (vii) relaying the exchange value of the item to the consumer;
• and
• (c) exchanging the item in return for the exchange value;
• wherein the delivery of the consumer good occurs prior to the relaying of the exchange value.