Vending machine method and apparatus for encouraging participation in a marketing effort
US6161059A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 14, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F9/02
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A vending machine method and apparatus are disclosed for encouraging vending machine customers to review a marketing promotion or to participate in a survey while making a purchase. Customers are immediately rewarded for providing responses about about the marketing promotion that was previously presented or their preferences or opinions. The reward may be, for example, a supplementary product, a discount on the customer's current purchase or a subsequent purchase, or a rebate. The vending machine ensures that it contains sufficient currency and products to meet the requirements of all active reward offers. The vending machine ensures that buyers are committed to making a purchase, before offering a reward to a customer. Unscrupulous customers are discouraged from using repeatedly participating in a marketing promotion, merely to collect rewards or influence the results of a survey. The marketing promotion presented to a customer can be based on the customer's current or previous product selection(s) or purchase history.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.