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US 8,510,161 B2Granted
Reservation gift card
AssigneeTarget Brands, Inc.
InventorRobert Murray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of using a stored-value card to reserve an item includes providing a stored-value card to a customer prior to the release date of an item, adding value to the stored-value card prior to the release date of the item, and reserving the item with the stored-value card. Other method and product embodiments are disclosed.
Claims24
A method of supporting use of a stored-value card to reserve and purchase an item from a retail merchant, comprising:
- providing a stored-value card to a customer prior to a release date of an item, the stored-value card including an activation area linking the stored-value card to an account stored in a database, wherein the database is associated with a retail merchant;
- using a point-of-sale computer system to scan the activation area of the stored-value card, access the account stored in the database, and add a value to the stored-value card prior to the release date of the item to automatically secure the item for future purchase after the release date, wherein the value is at least equal to a predetermined minimum value for reserving the item, wherein the value is received from the customer;
- reserving the item using the stored-value card, including physically holding the item for purchase by a bearer of the stored-value card on or after the release date;
- and
- on or after the release date:
- receiving the stored-value card, which includes the value added thereto, from the bearer of the stored-value card via a store computer configured to read the activation area in exchange for physical delivery of the item to the bearer, and
- allowing the bearer to remove the item from premises associated with the retail merchant,
- wherein providing the stored-value card, using the point-of-sale computer system to scan the activation area, access the account, and add the value, reserving the item, receiving the stored-value card and allowing the bearer to remove the item are all performed by the retail merchant, and the store computer is located on the premises associated with the retail merchant.
5 more elements
A method of making and supporting use of a reservation gift card assembly, comprising:
- providing a substrate;
- supporting a reservation gift card on the substrate, the reservation gift card defining an activation area linking the reservation gift card to a record of any monetary value associated with the reservation gift card, the activation area being one of a bar code and a magnetic strip;
- providing indicia on the reservation gift card and/or the substrate directing a purchaser of the reservation gift card to make a down payment to reserve a pre-release item and to present the reservation gift card to pick up the reserved pre-release item;
- maintaining the record in a database separate from the reservation gift card;
- increasing the monetary value associated with the reservation gift card by adding the down payment thereto on a first date using one of a plurality of store computers to increase the monetary value in the record, wherein each of the store computers is configured to scan the activation area to determine the record, and each of the store computers is in communication with the database such that each of the store computers can access records stored in the database;
- accepting, using one of the plurality of store computers, the reservation gift card and applying the down payment toward a purchase price of the pre-release item on or after a second date, which is different than and subsequent to the first date, wherein the reserved pre-release item is available for pick up only on or after the second date;
- and
- providing the reserved item to a bearer of the reservation gift card following applying the down payment toward the purchase price.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.