Friday, September 09, 2005

Amazon Files Patent For Price Comparison Using A Barcode

It looks like Amazon liked barcode scanning with a mobile device idea so much, they filed a patent on it.

In my opinion, I think they should find out who has the patent that allows clicking on a barcode and buying with one-click patent. That would be valuable for an online retailer.

The physical world gets connected with the electronic one and mobile marketing is born.

I still don't think price comparison using a mobile device will gain acceptance like many are predicting.

Clicking on a barcode for more information on a product would be welcomed by brands. Instead of price comparison, why not make the product interactive.

From SlashdotAmazon patent pending price checks

The Patent

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Doesn't a company called Neomedia Technologies do that already? With a patent too...

No Name said...

The concept I think that will allow physical world retailers to get traction in the digital world is to "click on a barcode and purchase"

Your cell phone would become your "shopping cart" and a forward thinking online retailer would use every retail store as their advertising.

In NYC, with transportation an issue, The Container store offers one-click purchase of any product by clicking on the barcode and adding to your cart. Goods are delivered later.

Why can't you click on any barcode, in any store, and have Amazon ship to you?

Somebody will create this application.

Anonymous said...

You can already price compare and shop with barcodes thru Active Shopper, who is also in bed with Neomedia. I think Amazon may have some competition with Active Shopper covering this areana. I think Amazon is trying to be ready for the next wave.

in4it

Anonymous said...

Most everything I buy these days I buy thru Amazon.com where I get price comparison, generally NO sales tax, and FREE shipping most of the time to boot. All are important to me. I would be reluctant to use "click barcode to purchase" unless I knew for sure that I was getting the best overall price & terms. If NEOM's Paperclick gains traction, Amazon would be wise to hook up with them so that every barcode/retailer can be shopped with "one click to/on Amazon.com"--that's a combination I could trust--and I could then select 'buy it now' (or save it on my Amazon Wish List for later review/decision).

No Name said...

Geez aren't you the demanding consumer!

You want the best price, no shipping charge and you want one click purchase ability.

If Amazon offered this, would you pay them a monthly fee for the convienence?

No Name said...

Active Shopper is a PC application. Froogle offers the same thing.

Explain how Active Shopper could EVER beat Froogle

Price comparison on a PC using a barcode is done by a few sites, Froogle is just the best imo.

Anonymous said...

Heck--the internet has made me demanding! The best combo would be for Yahoo to buy Amazon--powerfull team IMO. Personally, I don't like (when I used it) Froogle at all. ("If Amazon offered this, would you pay them a monthly fee for the convienence?") And, no, I wouldn't be willing to pay for the service--but I'd give 'em permission to send me related info on my cell phone. I would be a very LOYAL customer if I'm taken care of. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I can't show that Active Shopper is better than, equal to, or worse than Froogle, but I do know that what I bought recently was cheaper on Amazon than Froogle--check out "Lipiderm" for Large Breeds--120 count--buy 4 bottles:
I paid KV Vet Supply via Amazon $65.56 delivered and Froogle wanted $70.81 for the same order delivered to the same address. In this specific case Amazon was better.

(Code on the bottle-94008 01011-did not work on either Amazon or Froogle.)

Anonymous said...

I can't show that Active Shopper is better than, equal to, or worse than Froogle, but I do know that what I bought recently was cheaper on Amazon than Froogle--check out "Lipiderm" for Large Breeds--120 count--buy 4 bottles:
I paid KV Vet Supply via Amazon $65.56 delivered and Froogle wanted $70.81 for the same order delivered to the same address. In this specific case Amazon was better.

(Code on the bottle-94008 01011-did not work on either Amazon or Froogle.)

Anonymous said...

Re: post #7 above---I should have said in exchange for "the service" I would allow Amazon to permit the manufacturer and/or retail seller of products on my Amazon wish list to market (perhaps a special offer if I buy now?) to me directly on my cell phone for which Amazon might charge them and earn an extra fee if I buy . (IDEA?!)

Anonymous said...

vangorilla I think it is really strange that you have written articles like "We interupt this broadcast" but you always seem to be negative or noncommittal about neomedia.

Anonymous said...

PP needs to remain unbiased given the many neomites sprinkling his blog with Neomedia dust LOL!

No Name said...

You may compare prices at home using your PC, but let me ask you this.

What items would you compare prices using your cell phone for?

At what kind of stores?

What is the dollar amount difference that would make you go home and purchase online or go to another store and buy?

Did you download the Active Shopper toolbar or Google toolbar on your PC?

What services/applications would have to be offered to give up valuable space on your mobile phone?

Anonymous said...

Who called me a Neomite? That sounds like something I take off my dog. PP I downloaded ActiveShopper about 3 months ago and I have been very impressed at the way it just sits there until you look at something that could involve a purchase and it just pops up and runs a very quick comparsion. I think it will be very handy on a cell phone with Paperclick along side. Just my opnion.
Larry

Anonymous said...

What items would you compare prices using your cell phone for?

All the items I compare when I use my PC, of course, and maybe a few more. No, I won't compare prices on a package of M&M's, but for things I want & need and for which have no urgent timing requirement I will compare prices--net, net, net all-in costs--meaning tax, license, delivery.

What is the dollar amount difference that would make you go home and purchase online or go to another store and buy?

As you would imagine--that all depends, doesn't it? For an impulse buy for someting I really need/want RIGHT NOW, $5 bucks or $10 bucks may make real no difference to me, so I'll BUY NOW at the store. As the differential grows to say $30-$40 on say a several hundred dollar item, I may decide to WAIT, or to purchase via my cell from the cheaper seller and get it delivered to my door. (This analysis will be different for each of us IMO.)

What services/applications would have to be offered to give up valuable space on your mobile phone?

I don't plan on giving up ANYTHING! The applications will COME preinstalled either from the cell phone manufacturer or I will download 'em myself. I can add or delete myself just like on my PC--what's the big deal? What I DO WANT is convenience above all in terms of reliability and ease of use.

Anonymous said...

It's such an intersting concept. Hopefully one day I'll be generating enough cash on PriceCheck to licence the technology and use it. ;-)