| 摘要 |
<p>In the present price comparison and shopping method disclosed in Fig. 2, products are respectively assigned unique product codes in a database. The operator of the database is an intermediary between mail order vendors and consumers. Participating vendors are assigned respective unique vendor numbers by the database operator. The vendors upload pricing information to the database for the products they offer according to the codes. The prices include shipping, handling, and any applicable tax to eliminate hidden costs. Consumers contact the database operator by telephone (20), so that access is available virtually anywhere. A consumer seeking the lowest price for a product enters the product code into the telephone (21), and the lowest price in the database is given to the consumer (22). Identifying the product with the unique product code eliminates the possibility that a query is answered with the price of an unrelated product. After the consumer confirms an order for the product, the database operator contacts the vendor, who ships the product (38). The database operator is responsible for guaranteeing delivery and handling refunds, so that consumers do not have to be concerned with the reliability of individual vendors.</p> |
