Method and apparatus for providing a benefit during a transaction for use during a later transaction

Abstract

A method and apparatus for allowing a customer to purchase or otherwise receive a benefit during a first transaction that will be redeemed by the customer or provided to the customer at a later time or during a future transaction for the purchase, rental, lease, etc. of one or more products and/or services. The price to the customer for the benefit may be a monetary amount, a non-monetary amount, a commitment by the customer to complete or perform some obligation or qualifying action. The value of the benefit to the customer may be based on one or more aspects or characteristics of the first transaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a processing device, a product being purchased by a customer during a first transaction;   determining, by the processing device, a product price associated with the customer's purchase of the product during the first transaction;   providing, by the processing device, a benefit to the customer during the first transaction, wherein the benefit allows the customer to purchase the product during a second transaction for a second price that is equivalent to the first price;   determining, by the processing device and during the second transaction and on behalf of the customer, that a current price of the product is less then or equal to the second price; and   providing, by the processing device, an indication, based on the determining that the current price of the product is less then or equal to the second price, that the benefit should be saved for a future transaction.