METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ARRANGING FOR SALES USING CENTRALIZED ORDERING AND DECENTRALIZED SHIPPING

摘要

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention allow for centralized ordering of items from a main database holding inventory for a plurality of stores. Received orders are analysed to determine which ones of the plurality of stores include the item in the store's individual inventory. A store is selected from the stores that include the item in the store's inventory based on a customer's location. The store may be selected that is closest to the customer or the store that is assigned a geographical region including the customer. The order is sent to the selected store for the selected store to ship the requested item to the customer.