| 摘要 |
Computer-implemented methods and systems provide, at a virtual point-of-payment ("POP") at which a user is paying for goods or services, or when the user is recording a payment or otherwise using a financial management system, information for one or more alternative vendors from which the user may obtain the same or similar products. When the user employs the system to pay a bill, record a payment, or access a payee list, the system displays user-selectable vendor approval/disapproval icons (e.g., "thumbs up"/"thumbs down") for the user to rate the vendor, products or transaction. If the user selects the "thumbs down" icon to express displeasure with a current vendor (or, alternatively, whenever a payment is recorded or a payee list accessed), a list of alternative vendors selected from a vendor database is displayed, along with corresponding offerings, prices, user ratings (by other users), logos and other graphical information. Users can switch vendors by clicking or otherwise signaling their selection of a new vendor. Vendor switching is simplified by storing and transmitting, to the new vendor, user account information necessary to enable the new vendor to effectuate the switch-over. Vendors pay for inclusion in the vendor database, for advertising to targeted user groups, and for preferential placement. Customer account and spending information is aggregated for analysis and targeted marketing. The invention provides broad-based user ratings, simplified vendor switching, and generation of revenue through vendor registration and targeted advertising.
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