Method of selling product online and computer product  :-

ABSTRACT  :-

Information regarding non-sellable products for each store is stored in a database. The non-sellable product is a product that cannot be sold at that particular store. If a purchaser selects a non-sellable product from a catalog of a store, then the purchaser is introduced to another store in which the same product is a sellable product.

CLAIMs  :-

What is claimed is:

1. A method of selling products online by a plurality of stores based on a product catalog that comprises information on a plurality of products, the method comprising:

managing information regarding non-sellable products for each store, the non-sellable product being a product that cannot be sold at that particular store; and

when a purchaser selects a non-sellable product from the catalog of one store, introducing the purchaser to another store in which the product selected by the purchaser is a sellable product.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising updating the information regarding the non-sellable products for each store using selection of a product from the catalog by the purchaser as a trigger.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising managing information regarding stock shortage products for each store, the stock shortage product being a product that is out of stock in one particular store but that is available in another store,

wherein the purchaser is introducing to the another store based on the information regarding the stock shortage products.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising updating the information regarding the stock shortage products for each store using selection of a product from the catalog by the purchaser as a trigger.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising payment of fee by the another store to which the purchaser has been introduced to the store from whose catalog the purchaser has selected the non-sellable product.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

placing an order for the non-sellable product that has been selected by the purchaser to a manufacturer; and

selecting one step out of the step of placing the order to the manufacturer and the step of introducing the purchaser to another store.

7. A method of selling products online by a plurality of stores based on a product catalog that comprises information on a plurality of products, the method comprising:

managing information regarding non-sellable products for each store, the non-sellable product being a product that cannot be sold at that particular store; and

when a purchaser selects a non-sellable product from the catalog of one store, performing a shipment processing of shipping the product selected by the purchaser from another store in which the product selected by the purchaser is a sellable product.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising managing information regarding stock shortage products for each store, the stock shortage product being a product that is out of stock in one particular store but that is available in another store,

wherein the product is shipped from the another store based on the information regarding the stock shortage products.

9. A computer program containing instruction for executing a method of selling products online by a plurality of stores based on a product catalog that comprises information on a plurality of products, the computer program enabling a computer to function as:

a management unit which manages information regarding non-sellable products for each store, the non-sellable product being a product that cannot be sold at that particular store; and

an introduction unit which, when a purchaser selects a non-sellable product from the catalog of one store, introduces the purchaser to another store in which the product selected by the purchaser is a sellable product.

10. A computer program containing instruction for executing a method of selling products online by a plurality of stores based on a product catalog that comprises information on a plurality of products, the computer program enabling a computer to function as:

a management unit which manages information regarding non-sellable products for each store, the non-sellable product being a product that cannot be sold at that particular store; and

a shipment unit which, when a purchaser selects a non-sellable product from the catalog of one store, performs a shipment processing of shipping the product selected by the purchaser from another store in which the product selected by the purchaser is a sellable product.

DESCRIPTION :-

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of selling products online at a plurality of stores based on a product catalog formed from information on a plurality of products. More particularly, this invention relates to increasing the convenience for a purchaser and increase sales of products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]FIG. 28 is a block diagram which shows the structure of a conventional product sales system. As shown in FIG. 28, a product catalog server 10 is connected to a network 20. The product catalog server 10 provides a plurality of consumers on the network 20 with a product catalog, which is a collection of product release information from the respective manufacturers about a plurality of products, via a product catalog site 11.

[0003] A product catalog information database 12 stores product catalog information consisting of the product identification number, product name, manufacturer name, manufacturer code, price, date of sale, and the like for the plurality of products making up the product catalog.

[0004] Each one of store servers 30 ₁ to 30 _n is operated by stores A to N. Products advertised in the product catalog are sold to consumers via store sites31 ₁ to 31 _n. The stores A to N are independent stores that do not belong to the same management organization and are partner stores in the product catalog site11.

[0005] A point that needs to be noted is that not all the products advertised in the product catalog are always kept in stock in all of the stores A to N. Namely, the product catalog is created based on product release information provided by a plurality of manufacturers regardless of whether or not a particular store has dealings with a particular manufacturer.

[0006] Therefore, a state in which a store has no stock of the product of a manufacturer with which the store has no dealings frequently arises. Because of this, a state arises in which a particular product can be sold by one store (because the product is held in stock), while the same product cannot be sold by another store (because the product is not held in stock).

[0007] Each of the consumer clients 40 ₁ to 40 _m is connected to the network 200and is located on the side of the m number of consumers. Each of the consumer clients 40 ₁ to 40 _m is used to purchase products online from any one of the stores A to N, via any one of the store sites 31 ₁ to 31 _n and the product catalog site 11.

[0008] In the above described structure, if the consumer client 40 ₁ accesses the store server 30 ₁ (i.e., the store site 31 ₁), the store server 30 ₁ displays on the consumer client 40 ₁ the search menu screen 50 shown in FIG. 29. Here, if “product search” is clicked on the search menu screen 50, the store server 30 ₁causes the link destination of the consumer client 40 ₁ to jump to the product catalog site 11.

[0009] As a result, the product catalog server 10 displays the search screen 51 (a specific example of this is the search screen 59 shown in FIG. 30) on the consumer client 40 ₁. This search screen 51 is used to search a product catalog information database 12 (i.e., a product catalog) using the product name or the like as a search key. When a search button 52 is pressed after a search key has been input, the product catalog server 10 searches the product catalog information database 12 on the basis of the search key, and displays a search result screen 53 (a specific example of this is the search result screen 60 shown in FIG. 30) on the consumer client 40 ₁.

[0010] A list of products (product A, product B, and product C) is displayed as a result of the search on the search result screen 53. If a product being ordered is selected by the consumer from among the list of products, the product catalog server 10 displays an order screen 54 (a specific example of which is the order screen 61 shown in FIG. 30) on the consumer client 40 ₁. This order screen 54 is used to order selected products.

[0011] When the order button 55 is pressed, the product catalog server 10 makes an enquiry to the store server 30 ₁ as to whether or not the relevant product is kept in stock by the store A. If the product is kept in stock, a purchase screen 56(a specific example of which is the purchase screen 62 shown in FIG. 30) is displayed on the consumer client 40 ₁. The purchase screen 56 is used for the actual online purchase of the product.

[0012] If the purchase button 57 is pressed, the product catalog server 10 notifies the store site 31 ₁ of the consumer information and information on the product being purchased. As a result, processing to receive payment of the purchase fee and processing to deliver the product are performed in the store A.

[0013] If, however, the product ordered on the order screen 54 is not kept in stock by the store A, the product catalog server displays a not in stock screen 58 (a specific example of which is the not in stock screen 63 shown in FIG. 30) that includes an apology for the fact that the product is not kept in stock on the consumer client 40 ₁. Consequently, after confirming that the product cannot be obtained from the store A, the consumer begins the search again so as to make the purchase by another route by accessing another store server.

[0014] As has been described above, in a conventional product sales system, not all of the products corresponding to product catalog information database 12 shown in FIG. 28 can be sold by all of the stores A to N.

[0015] Therefore, when a product is not held in stock at a particular store, even if the consumer goes ahead and makes an order on the order screen 54 shown in FIG. 29, the purchase cannot be made and the not in stock screen 58 is displayed. Therefore, the problems arise of many claims being made by purchasers and of this purchasing system not being convenient for purchasers.

[0016] Because the store is also losing out on an excellent sales opportunity, this system is extremely disadvantageous from the viewpoint of a plurality of stores as it does nothing to promote increased product sales.

[0017] It is an object of this invention to provide a method of selling product and a computer product that increase the convenience for a purchaser and increase sales of products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention, products are sold online by a plurality of stores based on a product catalog that comprises information on a plurality of products. Information regarding non-sellable products for each store is managed. The non-sellable product is a product that cannot be sold (for example, because it is sold out) at that particular store. If a purchaser selects a product that is non-sellable in one store then the purchaser is introduced to another store in which that product is a sellable product.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, products are sold online by a plurality of stores based on a product catalog that comprises information on a plurality of products. Information regarding non-sellable products for each store is managed. The non-sellable product is a product that cannot be sold (for example, because it is sold out) at that particular store. If a purchaser selects a product that is non-sellable in one store then that product is shipped from another store in which that product is a sellable product.

[0020] Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.