Systems and methods to provide a product to a customer before a final transaction term value is established

Abstract

A method for selling a product which allows a customer to comparison search for, and obtain as a part of a purchase transaction, the competitive terms for a product following product acquisition. The method includes conveying the product to the customer prior to at least one transaction term of the sale being finalized, determining a final value of the transaction term, and completing the sale using the final value of the transaction term as a term of the sale.

1 . A system configured to authorize conveyance of a product to a purchaser before a transaction term of the sale is made final, the system comprising: 
 a point of sale terminal having an input device configured to accept product information; and    a central server coupled to the point of sale terminal, comprising: 
 a data storage device configured to store a default value for the transaction term corresponding to the product;  
 a network interface configured to receive, after product conveyance, a final value corresponding to the transaction term of the product; and  
 a processor coupled to the data storage device and the network interface, the processor configured to retrieve and replace the default value with the final value.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the point of sale terminal comprises: 
 a terminal processor coupled to the central server and configured to control the operation of the point of sale terminal;    a credit authorization terminal coupled to the terminal processor and configured to receive payment information;    a bar code scanner coupled to the terminal processor and configured to receive product information; and    a receipt terminal coupled to the terminal processor and configured to output an authorization record indicating the purchase transaction has been authorized.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a customer-operated kiosk, comprising: 
 a terminal processor coupled to the central server and configured to control the operation of the point of sale terminal;    a credit authorization terminal coupled to the terminal processor and configured to receive payment information;    a bar code scanner coupled to the terminal processor and configured to receive product information; and    a deactivation unit coupled to the terminal processor, wherein the product comprises an egress control device for alerting the seller of the product's unauthorized removal from the seller's facility, and wherein the deactivation unit deactivates the product's egress control device upon authorization of the purchase transaction.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the central server further comprises: 
 a system clock coupled to the central processor and configured to determine the expiration of an offer period associated with the purchase transaction;    a monitor coupled to the central processor and configured to display present and previous purchase transactions; and    a keyboard coupled to the central processor and configured to input transaction terms and transaction term values.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data storage device stores a registration database configured to store registration records relating to purchase transactions.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data storage device stores a product database configured to store product records.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data storage device stores a customer database configured to store customer records.  
     
     
         8 . A system configured to authorize conveyance of a product to a purchaser before a transaction term of the sale is made final, the system comprising: 
 point of sale input means for accepting product information; and    central computing means coupled to the point of sale input means, comprising: 
 data storage means for storing a default value for the transaction term corresponding to the product;  
 network interface means for receiving, after product conveyance, a final value corresponding to the transaction term of the product; and  
 central processor means coupled to the data storage means and the network interface means, for retrieving and replacing the default value with the final value.  
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the point of sale input means comprises: 
 terminal processor means coupled to the central computing means for controlling the operation of the point of sale input means;    account authorization means coupled to the terminal processor means for receiving payment information;    product identification means coupled to the terminal processor means for receiving product information; and    authorization means coupled to the terminal processor means for outputting an authorization record indicating the purchase transaction has been authorized.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a customer operation kiosk, comprising: 
 kiosk processor means coupled to the central computing means for controlling the operation of the kiosk;    account authorization means coupled to the kiosk processor means for receiving payment information;    product identification means coupled to the kiosk processor means for receiving product information; and    deactivation means coupled to the kiosk processor means, wherein the product comprises an egress control device for alerting the seller of the product's unauthorized removal from the seller's facility, and wherein the deactivation means deactivates the product's egress control device upon authorization of the purchase transaction.