WO2007002759A2

WO2007002759A2 - System and method for controlling dealer/consumer interaction

Info

Publication number: WO2007002759A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/025192
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wess Eric Sharpe
Original assignee: Namx, Inc.
Priority date: 2005-06-27
Filing date: 2006-06-27
Publication date: 2007-01-04
Also published as: WO2007035195A3; WO2007002759A3; WO2007002684A1; WO2007002650A3; WO2007002624A2; WO2007035195A2; WO2007002624A3; WO2007002680A2; WO2007002754A3; WO2007002650A2; WO2007002754A2; WO2007002680A3; WO2007035195A9

Abstract

A system and method, for example, for enabling a dealer to provide information regarding inventory and non-inventory tangible goods, enabling inventory of tangible good selling dealers to be sold to a consumer at a remote tangible good purchasing dealer site, and enabling a tangible good selling dealer to select from at least two product variables for negotiating a tangible good sale with a consumer. The system may include a computer system configured to provide information regarding an inventory tangible good actionable price, provide information regarding a non-inventory tangible good actionable price, and integrate the inventory and non-inventory tangible good information into a retail sales presentation to a consumer to enable the consumer to informatively purchase either the inventory or non-inventory tangible good at a corresponding actionable price.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DEALER/CONSUMER

INTERACTION

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/694,318 filed on June 27, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Further, the following co-pending and commonly-assigned PCT Patent Applications which designate among other countries, the United States, have been filed on the same day as the present application. Each of these applications relate to and further describe various aspects of the embodiments disclosed in the present application, as well as the above- referenced Provisional Application. Consequently, the contents of each of the following patent applications are hereby incorporated herein, by reference, in their entireties, in the present application: (1) "System and Method for Distribution of Wholesale Goods," filed on June 27, 2006, listing Wess Eric Sharpe as the Inventor, and accorded U.S. Application No. , PCT Application No. ; (2) "System and Method for Tangible Good

Valuation," filed on June 27, 2006, listing Wess Eric Sharpe and Eric Burton Schorvitz as Inventors, and accorded U.S. Application No. , PCT Application No. ;

(3) "System and Method for Inventory Control," filed on June 27, 2006, listing Wess Eric Sharpe and Eric Burton Schorvitz as Inventors, and accorded U.S. Application No. , PCT Application No. ; (4) "System and Method for Facilitating the

Sale of a Tangible Good Through an Auction Process," filed on June 27, 2006, listing Wess

Eric Sharpe as the Inventor, and accorded U.S. Application No. , PCT Application

No. ; and (5) "System and Method for Control, Distribution and Purchase of

Wholesale Goods and Related Interactions," filed on June 27, 2006, listing Wess Eric Sharpe and Eric Burton Schorvitz as Inventors, and accorded U.S. Application No. , PCT

Application No. .

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

a. Field of Invention

[0003] The invention relates generally to dealer/consumer interaction, and, more particularly, to a system and method for enabling a tangible good dealer to provide information regarding inventory and non-inventory tangible goods, for example, during a retail sales presentation. b. Description of Related Art

[0004] Inefficient distribution and sale of inventory as well as of non-inventory goods has been a long-standing problem for many types of goods. This problem is particularly acute with respect to vehicles. The number of possible configurations for a specific year, make and model based on available colors, various options, and various configurations is more often than not greater than a billion. Conversely, vehicle dealers can stock only a small percentage of the configurations given space and cost constraints on maintaining inventory. The relatively small local inventory of a vehicle dealer relative to the numerous possible vehicle configurations makes it highly unlikely that the dealer will be able to offer the exact vehicle desired by a consumer. Local inventories of used vehicles have an even lower probability of meeting actual consumer demands given additional variables such as mileage, cosmetic condition, etc. Dealers and consumers therefore often settle'on a less than perfect new or used vehicle transaction reducing sales, consumer satisfaction, prices and profits and requiring increasing incentives while also creating a high pressure sale process disliked by consumers. The depreciation in dealer to consumer sale prices of used vehicles also affects the amount dealers are willing to pay consumers on trade-ins of used vehicles, further decreasing the consumer's purchasing power for new vehicles sales and creating an unfortunate cycle of depreciation.

[0005] In addition to sales price and profits, the inability to match consumer demand with inventory harms financing operations because it (i) reduces the amount individuals are willing to pay up-front and in monthly payments; and (ii) makes it even more difficult to match low credit buyers with appropriate vehicles. Further, the inefficient distribution of vehicles also has negative effects on the freight transportation industry. In particular, freight carriers are not provided with information sufficient to optimize freight transport and many transporters waste significant resources.

[0006] A variety of solutions have been considered to make vehicle distribution more efficient. At the manufacturing level, build to order and late customization of orders have been attempted. In addition to their relative ineffectiveness, these efforts are unrealistic given other factors that require advance planning for optimal use of manufacturing assets and low cost production. Further, manufacturing level solutions such as these actually increase vehicle costs given requirements for parts storage and movement away from lean manufacturing.

[0007] Several e-commerce based systems for improving product distribution have also been proposed or attempted. Some systems — such as direct order manufacturing— would eliminate the dealer network. Dealers, however, provide important functions such as distribution of information and product, trade-in opportunities, indirect financing, and servicing and also provide a face to face relationship that is an important aspect of the retail sale of goods such as vehicles.

[0008] One existing e-commerce based system that leverages the existing dealer structure for improved distribution of new vehicles is the electronic dealer trade system developed by vehicle manufacturers. Using this system, dealers can locate vehicles at other dealers (or in production for, or transit to, other dealers) and initiate a trade. Dealer trade systems, however, are disadvantageous because they consume significant time of the dealer that may turn out to be a wasted effort — there is no certainty the dealer will be able to obtain the vehicle they have located, much less at a desired price (no price mechanism exists in the dealer trade system). Arranging trades can also be difficult because one dealer (the dealer with the vehicle) is typically in a much better negotiating position than the other dealer (the dealer who wants the vehicle). The dealer looking to make a trade also does not have an easy mechanism for identifying the dealer that will offer the greatest possible return. Finally, even if a trade is consummated, the dealers must spend additional time arranging for freight transportation. [0009] For used vehicles, auctions have provided improved distribution not only between dealers, but also between dealers and remarketers (e.g., corporate and government fleets, rental car companies, etc.). Physical auctions bring more buyers and sellers together for increased value, but are disadvantageous because they require transportation and storage of product (time and cost) and active participation of buyers and sellers (travel time and cost). Further, physical auctions often fail to convey adequate product information to enable buyer confidence and still significantly limit the pool of available participants. [0010] Recent auction improvements include the use of internet video to bring more buyers and reduce participant costs. More significantly, several auctioneers and remarketers have developed or implemented e-commerce based systems for used vehicle wholesaling such as Manheim Online (www.manheim.coml ATC (www. autotradecenter . com), Adesa (www.adesa.com) and General Motors (www. gmonlineauctions . com) . Car manufacturers have also adopted electronic systems for wholesaling used vehicles to their dealers and allowing dealers to exchange used vehicles. The limited number of participants in these systems, however, fails to optimize value. Further, these systems also do not integrate freight delivery resulting in buyer uncertainty regarding delivery costs and timing. The inability to guarantee freight cost and delivery in these systems creates uncertainty thereby decreasing potential sales, satisfaction, and profits. [0011] The inventors herein have thus recognized a need for a system and method for enabling a tangible good dealer to provide information regarding inventory and non-inventory tangible goods, for example, during a retail sales presentation that will minimize and/or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0012] The invention provides an administration system for controlling the behavior of all systems. In addition to wholesale systems, the administration system also controls retail systems such as vehicle sales, sales management, vehicle appraisal, consumer relations, as well as market leverage, whereby dealers predefine their desired profit margin in the administration system to use the millions of vehicles in the wholesale market as their own inventory in real time.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a system for enabling a dealer to provide information regarding inventory and non-inventory tangible goods. The system may include a computer system configured to provide information regarding an inventory tangible good actionable price, and provide information regarding a non-inventory tangible good actionable price. The computer system may integrate the inventory and non-inventory tangible good information into a retail sales presentation to a consumer to enable the consumer to informatively purchase the inventory and/or non-inventory tangible goods at a corresponding actionable price.

[0014] For the system described above, the system may be further configured to provide information regarding inventory and non-inventory good configuration, condition and delivery time. The inventory and non-inventory tangible good information may be guaranteed. The computer system may be further configured to provide a retail sales price for inventory and non-inventory tangible goods including a pre-established profit margin of an acquiring retail dealer such that an inventory of all participants of the system is offered by the retail dealer to the consumer during the retail sales presentation. The computer system may be further configured to provide a dealer with an ability to modify the inventory and/or non- inventory tangible good and options associated with the inventory and/or non-inventory tangible good during the retail sales presentation. The computer system may be further configured to perform the modification by a pentagon sub-system including a singular or a matrix presentation, with the matrix presentation including a greater number of options presentable to the consumer than the singular presentation. The singular and matrix presentations may enable a dealer to modify the options to meet the consumer's desired price and/or budget. The aforementioned options may include the inventory and non-inventory tangible good configuration and/or delivery time. The pentagon sub-system may allow a dealer to bid with other dealers on a tangible good during the retail sales presentation to further reduce a price of the tangible good offered during the retail sales presentation or to increase dealer profit margin. In a particular system configuration, the dealer profit margin may not be disclosed to the consumer, and further, shipping charges, the system fees, and/or reconditioning costs may not be disclosed to the consumer.

[0015] The invention also provides a system for enabling inventory of tangible good selling dealers to be sold to a consumer at a remote tangible good purchasing dealer site. The system may include a computer system configured to determine a predefined profit margin of a tangible good purchasing dealer, and determine a selling price, transportation cost and/or reconditioning cost of the tangible good selling dealers. The computer system may be further configured to provide a total tangible good cost to the consumer at the remote tangible good purchasing dealer site based on determination of the predefined profit margin and the selling price, transportation cost and/or reconditioning cost.

[0016] For the system described above, the total tangible good cost may be guaranteed, and further, the selling price, transportation cost and/or reconditioning cost may be guaranteed. The computer system may be further configured to provide a value of a consumer tangible good trade-in and integrate the value into the total tangible good cost. [0017] The invention further provides a system for enabling a tangible good selling dealer to select from at least two product variables for negotiating a tangible good sale with a consumer. The system may include a computer system configured to determine at least one product variable based on a bid placed by the consumer on a tangible good of a dealer other than the tangible good selling dealer.

[0018] For the system described above, the computer system may be configured to provide an accurate market valuation of a consumer trade-in. In a particular system configuration, the selling dealer profit margin may not be disclosed to the consumer, and further, shipping charges, the system fees, and/or reconditioning costs may not be disclosed to the consumer. [0019] The invention yet further provides a method for enabling a dealer to provide information regarding inventory and non-inventory tangible goods. The method may include providing information regarding an inventory tangible good actionable price, and providing information regarding a non-inventory tangible good actionable price. The method may further include integrating the inventory and non-inventory tangible good information into a retail sales presentation to a consumer to enable the consumer to informatively purchase either the inventory or non-inventory tangible good at a corresponding actionable price. [0020] For the method described above, the method may further include providing information regarding inventory and non-inventory good configuration, condition and/or delivery time. The inventory and non-inventory tangible good information may be guaranteed. The method may further include providing a retail sales price for inventory and non-inventory tangible goods including a pre-established profit margin of an acquiring retail dealer such that an inventory of all participants of a system for implementing the method is offered by the retail dealer to the consumer during the retail sales presentation. The method may further include providing a dealer with an ability to modify the inventory and/or non- inventory tangible good and/or options associated with the inventory or non-inventory tangible good during the retail sales presentation. The method may further include performing the modification by a pentagon sub-system including a singular or a matrix presentation, with the matrix presentation including a greater number of options presentable to the consumer than the singular presentation. The singular and matrix presentations may enable a dealer to modify the options to meet the consumer's desired price and/or budget. The options may include the inventory and/or non-inventory tangible good configuration and/or delivery time. The pentagon sub-system may allow a dealer to bid with other dealers on a tangible good during the retail sales presentation to further reduce the price of the tangible good offered during the retail sales presentation and/or to increase dealer profit margin. The dealer profit margin may not be disclosed to the consumer, and further, shipping charges, the system fees, and/or reconditioning costs may not be disclosed to the consumer. [0021] The invention also provides a method for enabling inventory of tangible good selling dealers to be sold to a consumer at a remote tangible good purchasing dealer site. The method may include determining a predefined profit margin of a tangible good purchasing dealer, and determining selling price, transportation cost and/or and reconditioning cost of the tangible good selling dealers. The method may further include providing a total tangible good cost to the consumer at the remote tangible good purchasing dealer site based on determination of the predefined profit margin and the selling price, transportation cost and/or reconditioning cost.

[0022] For the method described above, the total tangible good cost may be guaranteed, and further, the selling price, transportation cost and/or reconditioning cost may be guaranteed. The method may further include providing a value of a consumer tangible good trade-in and integrate the value into the total tangible good cost. [0023] The invention further provides a method for enabling a tangible good selling dealer to select from at least two product variables for negotiating a tangible good sale with a consumer. The method may include determining at least one product variable based on a bid placed by the consumer on a tangible good of a dealer other than the tangible good selling dealer.

[0024] For the method described above, the method may further include providing an accurate market valuation of a consumer trade-in. In a particular system configuration, the selling dealer profit margin may not be disclosed to the consumer, and further, shipping charges, the system fees, and/or reconditioning costs may not be disclosed to the consumer. [0025] Each of the aforementioned systems and methods may be implemented via a wireless handset. Further, the tangible goods and all aspects (i.e. inventory) related thereto may be for vehicles.

[0026] Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detail description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0028] Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system for distribution of tangible goods in accordance with the present invention;

[0029] Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a component of the system of Fig. 1; [0030] Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a system, for example, for enabling a dealer to provide information regarding inventory and non-inventory tangible goods in accordance with the present invention; ^•

[0031] Fig. 4 is a flowchart of various sub-systems of the system of Fig. 3; [0032] Fig. 5 is a listing of various sub-systems of the system of Fig. 3, and the flowchart of Fig. 4;

[0033] Fig. 6 is a flowchart applicable to a Vehicle Wholesale Market Leverage subsystem of the sub-systems listed in Fig. 5; [0034] Fig. 7 is a listing of various sub-systems that work within a Vehicle Service

Integrations Sub-system;

[0035] Fig. 8 is a listing of various sub-systems that work within a Dealership Ecommerce

Management Sub-system;

[0036] Fig. 9 is a listing of various sub-systems that work within a Dealer Consumer

Surveying Sub-system;

[0037] Fig. 10 is a flowchart of a Marketing Media Integration Sub-system; and

[0038] Fig. 11 is a flowchart of various sub-systems of the system of Fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figs. 1-11 illustrate various exemplary views of a system 20 and a corresponding method, for example, for enabling a dealer to provide information regarding inventory and non-inventory tangible goods, enabling inventory of tangible good selling dealers to be sold to a consumer at a remote tangible good purchasing dealer site, and enabling a tangible good selling dealer to select from at least two product variables for negotiating a tangible good sale with a consumer. [0040] As described in detail in copending application titled "System and Method for Distribution of Wholesale Goods," filed June 27, 2006, and the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, generally, Fig. 1 illustrates a system 20 for distribution of tangible goods in accordance with the present invention. System 20 is particularly adapted for use in distributing types of goods that are tangible (i.e., have a physical structure) and in which each of the goods is unique in some way. In particular, system 20 is adapted for use in distributing vehicles such as automobiles. Vehicles are unique in that each vehicle has a unique vehicle identification number (VIN) that allows information about the vehicle (e.g., prior repair history, ownership history, etc.) to be tracked. Although system 20 is particularly adapted for these types of goods, however, it should be understood that system 20 may be used for distribution of a wide variety of tangible goods. [0041] System 20 includes a computer system 22 or central computing architecture. System 22 includes one or more microprocessors configured in accordance with the present invention by programming instructions (i.e., software) to perform one or more of the functions described herein. In particular, system 22 establishes an electronic wholesale marketplace for a type of tangible good in which wholesalers can sell and purchase the goods and further establishes an electronic freight marketplace for the goods in which freight haulers can accept contracts for the transport of the purchased goods. In this connection, system 22 is designed to allow a variety of participants to interact with the wholesale marketplace and the freight marketplace including dealers 24, remarketers 26 (e.g., in the case of vehicles, rental car companies, corporate and government fleet owners, leasing institutions, etc.), freight haulers 28, manufacturers 30, financial institutions 32, and third party product and service providers 34 (e.g., third party inspection services, storage and distribution services, auctioneers, information providers, etc.). The number and type of marketplace participants — and the type of interaction of those participants with the marketplaces—will vary depending upon the type of good and other factors. System 22 will also assume a wide variety of computing configurations depending on the type of good and other factors (e.g., type of marketplace participants). As such, system 22 may include a plurality of computing devices arranged in one or more of a plurality of known computing architectures. System 22 may, for example, include servers, such as servers 36, 38, 40 and may include one or more supercomputers 42.

[0042] As used herein, the term "server" refers to a computing device coupled to a network and configured by programming instructions (i.e., software) to provide services to other computing devices (including other servers). Referring to Fig. 2, the architecture of each server 36, 38, 40 maybe described as a series of layers including an operating system layer 44, a database layer 46, an application layer 48 and an interface layer 50. [0043] The operating system layer 44 of each server 36, 38, 40 may include a conventional operating system such as one of the operating systems sold under the registered trademark "WINDOWS®" available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington. It should be understood, however, that other conventional operating systems such as those based on the Linux or UNIX operating systems or operating systems for the Apple computer system (e.g. OS X) may alternatively be used.

[0044] The database layer 46 is configured to provide a static and dynamic contact structure for each server 36, 38, 40. Database layer 46 is used to provide both intermediate information while each server 36, 38, 40 executes operations and long-term storage of data. Database layer 46 may employ a database management system (DBMS) such as the DMBS sold under the trademark "SQL SERVER" by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington.

[0045] The application layer 48 is configured to communicate with and between database layer 46 and interface layer 50 and configures the server 36, 38, 40 to perform the functions described in greater detail hereinafter. Application layer 48 may be implemented using conventional software development components and may further include a combination of JavaScript, VB Script and ASP (Active Server Pages) and other conventional software components to provide required functionality.

[0046] Interface layer 50 provides a graphical and communications interface between the servers 36, 38, 40 and between the servers 36, 38, 40 and supercomputers 42 and the computing devices used by dealers, remarketers, freight haulers, financial institutions and third party service providers. Interface layer 50 may be configured to be extensible Markup Language (XML) or Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) compliant. [0047] Referring again to Fig. 1, servers 36 may comprise web servers or application servers running application server software (and/or a combination of the two). Servers 38 may comprise database servers running database server software that provides database related services— including access, retrieval from, and storage to databases 52~to servers 36, 40 and supercomputer 42.

[0048] The information stored in databases 52 will vary depending on factors such as the good and the marketplace participants. In the case where the good is a vehicle, databases 52 may include information relating to the market participants. For example, databases 52 may store information about each participant such as business entity information (name, addresses, identification information, SIC classification, etc.), contact information (identification of primary contacts and their titles, phone numbers, email addresses, etc.) authentication information, relationships (e.g. linking dealers by a shared characteristic such as common ownership), controls on marketplace participation (defined by the dealers 24 themselves or by manufacturers 30, financial institutions 32, etc.), licenses, insurance coverage, etc. Databases 52 may also include valuation information used in valuation of the goods. For example, databases 52 may include information regarding specifications for the goods and each dealer's labor rate for repair of the goods (flat rate based on type of repair or time-based (hourly) rates) to assist in providing a proper valuation, and estimated time for repairing predefined defects in the goods (e.g., a cracked windshield in a vehicle). Databases 52 may also include information about previous marketplace transactions for each good. The above examples of the type of information stored in databases 52 are not meant to be exhaustive, but rather illustrative. It will be evident from the subsequent description that databases 52 will hold a wide variety of information for use by system 22.

[0049] Servers 40 and supercomputer 42 may be used to provide distributed computational resources within system 22 and to perform intensive computational and processing functions. Supercomputer 42 may comprise a computing device including a plurality of microprocessors configured to engage in parallel processing such as those offered for sale by IBM Corp or Cray, Inc.

[0050] Servers 40 and supercomputers 42 may be arranged in any of plurality of distributed computing architectures such as a two-tier (client-server) computing architecture, or a multi-tier (n-tier) computing architecture, or a grid computing architecture or a peer-to- peer computing architecture. Servers 36, 38, 40, or other servers (not shown) may also perform conventional distributed computing functions such as load balancing among the servers 36, 38, 40.

[0051] Servers 36, 38, 40 and supercomputers 42 communicate with one another over a telecommunications network 54. Network 54 may, for example, comprise a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) and may comprise an intranet or an extranet and may utilize the public internet. An enterprise service bus (ESB) may be used to control communications (including messaging and routing) over network 54 between servers 36, 38, 40 and supercomputers 42.

[0052] The marketplace participants—including dealers 24, remarketers 26, freight haulers 28, manufacturers 30, financial institutions 32 and third party product and service providers 34~will use a variety of computing devices to connect to system 22 over a telecommunications network 56. These devices may include, for example, local servers 58, wireless access points (WAPs) 60 and personal computers 62 such as desktop or laptop computers and handheld computers such as personal digital assistants (PDAs). Network 56 preferably includes the public internet and may include both wired and wireless networks. For example, freight haulers 28 or other market participants that may be located remotely from wired computers or sites may invoke cellular, satellite or other wireless technologies as part of network to enable communication of their computing devices with system 22. [0053] Servers 58 may comprise webs servers or application servers or a combined web/application server. Servers 58 may provide a variety of functions depending on the application. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, however, servers 58 maybe configured to communicate with an inventory management system 64 for a dealer 24 of tangible goods (e.g., a vehicle dealer's DMS system) for inventory control. Server 58 may receive information pertaining to the dealer's inventory from system 64 and provide it to computer system 12.

[0054] Wireless access points (WAPs) 60 are provided to enable communication between wireless computing and communication devices and may comprise conventional structures known in the art. For example, WAPs 60 may be used to allow inspectors to inspect the goods located at dealerships (e.g. outside storage lots) or other locations lacking access to a wired network and to send information to and receive information from system 22. [0055] Personal computers 62 are provided to perform a wide variety of functions, many of which are described hereinafter, depending on the market participant. Personal computers 62 may function as client in a client-server configuration with servers 36, 38, 40 of system 22. In particular, computers 62 may run client software to access system 22 such as an internet browser (in the case of a web-based application) or a customized graphical user interface. [0056] Servers 58, WAPs 60 and computers 62 may communicate with one another at a market participant's location or locations over a private telecommunications network 66 such as a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). Servers 58, WAPs 60 and computers 62 may further communicate with system 22 through network 56. Again, an enterprise service bus (ESB) may be used to control communications (including messaging and routing) over network 56 between servers 58, WAPs 60 and computers 62 and system 22. [0057] While the remaining architecture and operation of system 20 is described in copending application titled "System and Method for Distribution of Wholesale Goods," as briefly discussed above, the present application will describe specific operations of system 20, for example, for enabling a dealer to provide information regarding inventory and non- inventory tangible goods, enabling inventory of tangible good selling dealers to be sold to a consumer at a remote tangible good purchasing dealer site, and enabling a tangible good selling dealer to select from at least two product variables for negotiating a tangible good sale with a consumer.

[0058] The detailed description of various sub-systems incorporated in system 20 according to the present invention will follow the next few paragraphs, which will generally describe the operation of system 20.

[0059] As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, system 20 may generally include computer system 22 configured to provide information 70 regarding an inventory tangible good actionable price. In an exemplary embodiment, the actionable price may be a price guaranteed by a dealer for the purchase of a tangible good. Further, as discussed above, an inventory tangible good may be a good 72 such as a vehicle available in the immediate inventory of a dealer (i.e. available on a dealer lot, at an accessible satellite location or otherwise readily available to a dealer). Computer system 22 may be further configured to provide information regarding a non-inventory tangible good actionable price. A non-inventory tangible good actionable price may be a price guaranteed by a dealer for the purchase of a tangible good 74 such as a vehicle not available in the immediate inventory of a dealer (i.e. available at another dealer's lot, a vehicle in freight or on order by the dealer or another dealer, or a vehicle otherwise available to the selling dealer at a future date).

[0060] As discussed in detail below, computer system 22 may be generally configured to integrate the inventory and non-inventory tangible good information into a retail sales presentation to a consumer 76 to enable the consumer to informatively purchase either the inventory or the non-inventory tangible good at a corresponding actionable price. In this manner, computer system 22 allows for the selling dealer (i.e. dealer 78) to offer non- inventory tangible goods 74 (i.e. vehicles owned by other wholesale trade entities) to retail consumers with a guaranteed vehicle actionable price, and integration of these non-inventory tangible goods 74 into the retail sale presentation to the consumer.

[0061] The offered retail actionable price may include a pre-established profit margin of the acquiring/re-selling retail dealer 78, such that the inventory of all system participants (i.e. dealers 80, 82...) can be offered by vehicle dealers to their retail consumers. Computer system 22 may be also configured to provide information regarding inventory and non- inventory good configuration, condition and delivery time, with the information being guaranteed.

[0062] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, computer system 22 may be configured to provide dealer 78 with an ability to modify the inventory and/or non-inventory tangible good (72, 74) and options associated with the inventory or non-inventory tangible good during the retail sales presentation.

[0063] The modification may be performed by a pentagon sub-system 84 including a singular or a matrix presentation; 86, 88. Matrix presentation 88 may include a greater number of options (i.e. cash down, finance term, and monthly payment) presentable to the consumer than singular presentation 86. Each of these presentations may enable dealer 78 to modify the options to meet the requirements of consumer 76, such as desired price and budget. In a particular embodiment, the options may include configuration and delivery time for the tangible goods. Yet further, aforementioned pentagon sub-system 84 may allow a dealer to bid with other dealers (i.e. 80, 82...) on a tangible good during the retail sales presentation to further reduce a price of the tangible good offered during the retail sales presentation or to increase the profit margin for dealer 78. In a particular embodiment of system 20, the profit margin for dealer 78 may be not disclosed to the consumer. [0064] Regardless of the format, pentagon sub-system 84 enables a highly effective yet non-confrontational approach by providing consumers with rich feature and benefit information, the ability to accurately appraise their own trade-in, and optimally match the vehicle and. options they truly want with their desired price and/or budget. If the initial vehicle criterion fails to meet the consumer's price and/or budget expectations, dealer 78 can simply adjust the price, vehicle, options, and delivery time criteria in pentagon sub-system 84 to enable a collaborative effort with the consumer. If consumer 76 is satisfied with one or more of the results but insists on a lower price, dealer 78 can collect a deposit from the consumer and bid on one or all of those vehicles at the same time in the wholesale market on behalf of the consumer and/or to increase profit margin. Since all bids in pentagon subsystem 84 will include yet conceal the dealer's predetermined profit margin, all bidding can take place directly in front of the consumer, thus, increasing consumer satisfaction and confidence.

[0065] Because the present invention markets will be synchronous and guarantee all vehicles, deliveries, titles, and payments, dealers will be able to contract all retail transactions resulting from wholesale market leverage on the spot. While aforementioned pentagon subsystem 84 will not remove price negotiation, it will certainly begin to reverse the idea that dealers and carmakers are in business to give away automobiles. To that end, pentagon subsystem 84 will focus a consumer's attention on the combination of vehicle value and their wants and needs rather than cutthroat pricing, to thus increase vehicle sales, prices, and profits for dealer 78.

[0066] hi another embodiment, system 20 may generally enable inventory of tangible good selling dealers (such as dealers 78) to be sold to a consumer 90 at a remote tangible good purchasing dealer site (i.e. at the site of dealer 80). m this regard, computer system 22 may be configured to determine a predefined profit margin of tangible good purchasing dealer 80, and determine a selling price, transportation cost and/or reconditioning cost of tangible good selling dealers. Based on the aforementioned factors of determination of the predefined profit margin and determination of the selling price, transportation cost and/or reconditioning cost, system 20 may provide a total tangible good cost to consumer 90 at the remote tangible good purchasing dealer site. For system 20, the total tangible good cost may be guaranteed. [0067] Computer system 22 may be further configured to provide a value of a consumer tangible good trade-in and integrate the value into the total tangible good cost. [0068] hi another embodiment, system 20 may generally enable tangible good selling dealer 78 to select from at least two product variables for negotiating a tangible good sale with consumer 76. System 20 may include computer system 22 configured to determine one or more product variables based on a bid placed by consumer 76 on a tangible good of a dealer (i.e. dealers 80, 82...) other than tangible good selling dealer 78. As discussed in detail in copending application titled "System and Method for Tangible Good Valuation," filed June 27, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, computer system 22 may be configured to provide an accurate market valuation of a consumer trade-in. In an exemplary embodiment, the selling dealer profit margin may not be disclosed to the consumer.

[0069] Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, system 20 according to the present invention will now be described in further detail, in conjunction of the following applicable Sub-systems; Dealership Management Sub-system 92, Vehicle Retail Sales Administration Sub-system 94, Dealer Service Provider Integration Sub-system 96, Dealer Digital Dashboard Interface Sub-system 98, Dealer Digital Consulting Integration Sub-system 100, Salesforce Forecast Management Sub-system 102, Consumer Data Elicitation Sub-system 104, Retail Product Information Subsystem 106, Vehicle Wholesale Market Leverage Sub-system 108, Vehicle Valuation Appraisal Sub-system 110, Pentagon Retail Negotiation Sub-system 112, Lending Wholesale Market Leverage Sub-system 114, Vehicle Consumer Relation Sub-system 116, Vehicle Service Integrations Sub-system 118, Dealership Ecommerce Management Sub-system 120, Dealer Consumer Account Sub-system 122, Dealer Consumer Surveying Sub-system 124, Dealership Marketing Administration Sub-system 126, Marketing Media Integration Subsystem 128 and Automated Direct Mail Management Sub-system 130. [0070] Dealership Management Sub-system

[0071] System 20 of the present invention is based at least on the premise that the ultimate purpose of wholesale is retail and that connecting the two will increase value in both. System 20 is thus a natural and technological extension of existing wholesale systems, in that the cost of development of system 20 will not be prohibitive, especially relative to its value. There are several reasons for this. For example, the core components of the functionality of system 20 will be embedded in existing systems required by vehicle wholesale, therefore, the additional development will be minimal. Business managers and district directors who are required by the deployment of wholesale systems will also oversee retail systems, thereby having a minimal impact on operations. The value of the retail systems will promote acceptance of the wholesale systems, thus, reducing the cost of wholesale systems to a greater extent than the cost of retail systems. Retail systems will promote far greater wholesale transactions and thus, the present invention revenue to a far greater extent than the cost of developing, deploying, and managing retail systems. Albeit nominal compared to value, retail systems will create ancillary revenue, which will be subject to further collaboration with the present invention members, partners, as well as investors. [0072] Dealership Management Sub-system 92 thus addresses the integration of the wholesale and retail markets at the dealership and the corresponding applications that makes it possible. Dealership Management Sub-system 92 also deals with sales forecasting, consumer data elicitation, sales and surveying as well as with e-commerce and marketing. [0073] For wholesale marketplace entrance, dealer 78 may scan the VIN with the system 20 handheld to enter and price any vehicle. For new vehicles, dealer 78 may instantly price the vehicle and it will be available in the market immediately. For used vehicles, dealer 78 may quickly receive the date and approximate time of an inspection, for example within 48 hours before entering a vehicle. After the completion of inspection, any seller can easily consider vehicle condition and value for pricing. [0074] Vehicle Retail Sales Administration Sub-system

[0075] The Vehicle Retail Sales Administration (VRSA) Sub-system 94 enables dealer 78 (and/or dealers 80, 82... and administrators) to control the sales process from start to finish, including introduction, criteria, demonstration, sales, negotiations, vehicle information, pricing etc. Dealer 78 may also assign a markup, which can be a dollar amount or a percentage, whichever may be the greatest, to his own inventory over the vehicles in system 20. In addition, the dealer can also assign retail price, delivery time, cash down, monthly payment, lease payment etc. Consumer 76 can view this information too. In brief, the combination of market leverage and information systems will radically enhance the vehicle sales process for each consumer, dealer, and carmaker.

[0076] VRSA Sub-system 94 also enables dealer 78 to control the retail process, and information visibility to the consumer. It enables the dealer to choose the type of questions they want sales persons to ask consumers, or whether to use the VDM (Vehicle Decision Modeler) discussed below. VRSA Sub-system 94 lets the dealer choose the appraisal system and select the components of the inspection system he wants to use to appraise the cars. The dealer can increase or decrease the components of the inspection system being used based on the year make and model of the car.

[0077] At any point during the process, system 20 may provide dealer management with integrated negotiation, finance, and lease capabilities. Sales control will integrate the following exemplary factors of sales management among many other factors into one system for vehicle sales; consumer information, credit application, credit reporting, vehicle selection, retail pricing, trade-in appraisal, trade-in allowance, trade-in payoff, consumer cash, carmaker incentives, interest rate, financing term, monthly payment, lease factor, lease duration, vehicle residual, lease payment, warranty sales, insurance sales, total costs and total profits. These twenty-one exemplary factors of the negotiation process allow a dealer and consumer to reach a deal over the financial aspects of buying/leasing an automobile.

[0078] Additionally, VRSA sub-system 94 lets a dealer set the ADI (Area of Dominant Influence) for his dealership in the system. ADI may be set by geographic area of influence by zip code. The system that shows the ADI will also display the demographic elements of each area such as average age, income, and education according to the gender and nationality ratios. The system may also include a consumer mapping interface. Based on previous vehicle and service sales as well as the digital traffic log for sales and service, the interface will graphically map the missed, potential, and previous consumers by price, segment, model, and vehicle service among other factors, thereby assisting the dealer to define the ADI. A dealer may also acquire market and consumer data from data providers like R.L. PoUc or Info USA. This helps dealers address hygiene within the ADI, thereby streamlining the right information to the right applications. There may be also an interface for carmakers to publish and adjust the demographic targets for each specific model variation. As the data may be entered, CMT juxtaposes the data with actual sales data to adjust the target and thus, enable the dealer and carmaker to more effectively reach the audience. The dealer can also set a list of initial qualifying questions for a sales agent to ask a consumer when he first enters the dealership.

[0079] Dealer Service Provider Integration Sub-system

[0080] Dealer Service Provider Integration Sub-system 96 permits dealer 78 to choose any third party service provider to perform certain tasks. For example, third parties like Chrome and RouteOne provide services outside of system 20. System 20 this integrates with these web services to assist the dealer and let them access these services. [0081] Dealer Difiital Dashboard Interface Sub-system

[0082] Dealer Digital Dashboard Interface (DDDI) Sub-system 98 may be an interface that dealer 78 sees at startup. The DDDI Sub-system may show daily recommendations and enable dealer 78 to jump to various sections of system 20 from it directly. The dealer/user can customize the Dealer Digital Dashboard to display the options he wants to see at system startup. Primarily, the DDDI Sub-system may be an adjustable interface that enables departmental management to view and compare the sales forecast with the sales pipeline and performance as well as gross profit and cost. Additionally, the Dealer Digital Dashboard enables the dealership management to do the same for all departments combined. Similar to this, a Dealer Group Dashboard may be an operational interface for dealer groups (two or more) enabling them view the Dashboard for a single dealership or combine them together. Moreover, the Group Dashboard enables dealer group management to compare their dealership in almost every possible category. [0083] Dealer Digital Consulting Integration Sub-system

[0084] Dealer Digital Consulting Integration (DDCI) Sub-system 100 may be used for establishing group benchmarks. DDCI Sub-system 100 segments dealers based on type of car sold and the size of their revenue (and other factors), and then calculates their operational and performance ratios and allows dealerships to compare their performance to their peers. This shows where the dealer may be as a percentage of the benchmark. These benchmarks are operational benchmarks, regarding sales, number of salespersons per consumer, and such other measurement factors. Dealers may only be allowed to see operational and benchmark information for their own dealership. With DDCI Sub-system 100, a dealer can see how his dealership may be performing in terms of the overall market. DDCI Sub-system 100 can also compare a dealer (i.e. dealer 78) with other dealers (i.e. dealers 80, 82...) in different areas. This will help dealers identify possible problem areas to fix. However, dealers will not be able to see specific information for other dealers, only averages to measure performance by. [0085] The dealer digital group may be a set of dealers, based on the same franchise or franchises and are about the same size with a small variance. Groups of dealer operations based on sales volume and market similarities may be created to establish operational benchmarks on a daily and monthly basis. Dealers may continuously monitor and compare their financial and operational areas with the group benchmarks.

[0086] The capabilities of the dealer systems are strengthened by external data. To enjoy the aggregate data, a dealer must likewise share aggregate data. DDCI Sub-system 100 enables a dealer to share and receive demographic and geographic data regarding consumer interactions in real time (Consumer Interaction Data). Based on dealer operational parameters and benchmarks, DDCI Sub-system 100 makes recommendations for improvement and displays established best practices for areas such as capitalization, sales, service, marketing, and human resources. DDCI Sub-system 100 also monitors dealer operations and returns established recommendations based on performance.

[0087] DDCI Sub-system 100 also contains a forecasting interface for each dealership department that assists the manager with forecasting specific elements of sales and costs based on operational benchmarks and factors such as sales history, inventory, and personnel. On a daily basis, performance may be compared to specific objectives. DDCI Sub-system 100 integrates with the Dealer and Dealer group dashboards to display information. Based on the benchmarks and recommendations, dealer groups can order a guaranteed physical audit and valuation of vehicle inventory by employing the present invention inspectors. In addition, the Vehicle Inspection Support application may be also provided to dealer management for internal inventory auditing capabilities. [0088] Sales Force Forecast Management Sub-system

[0089] Sales Force Forecast Management (SFFM) Sub-system 102 may provide a means for the sales force with the ability to forecast their sales based on their calendar. SFFM Subsystem 102 also contains what they plan to sell by make and model (for new cars) and by segment (used/reconditioned cars). This information may be pulled in by the present invention and benchmarked. Codes are sent if there are problems stemming from their measurement. All the systems after the aforementioned DDCI Sub-system 100 are systems that contain data about the dealerships performance that can be benchmarked and codes can be sent if problems are found to the Dealers Dashboard.

[0090] The Sales Force Forecast may be created based on the forecast data. A vehicle sales pipeline may be also created. It uses a Consumer Data Elicitation Sub-system 104 (described below) to get consumer information to populate a sales pipeline based on how close consumers are to make a sale. SFFM Sub-system 102 has an interface for viewing the sales pipeline, but it may be actually stored in the Vehicle Consumer Relation Sub-system 116 described below. The sales management control interface can control the sales forecast of the individual sales force, the administrator also sees the sales forecast for the entire dealership and can manage it. Average gross profit per sales person forecast may be used to forecast revenue for the whole store. [0091] Consumer Data Elicitation Sub-system

[0092] With regard to Consumer Data Elicitation Sub-system 104, omitting actual sales, basic consumer information may be loosely or simply not captured during the sales process. While a few dealers use digital processes, most dealers handwrite consumer information on paper somewhere in the showroom where it sits until it may be relocated and eventually thrown away. Inevitably, the vast majority of potential information may be of no use to the sales representative, dealer, or carmaker. In the U.S. alone, franchised dealers annually invest approximately $8 billion dollars in advertising, about $48 billion in payroll, almost $7 billion in facilitation costs, a few more billion in floor plan interest, and over $150 billion in ongoing inventory on average. Yet, the average dealer does not know how many consumers were at their dealership on a given day, their demographics, contact information, wants, and needs, or budget. The average dealer does not know how many consumers a particular representative greeted, how many and what vehicles were demonstrated versus actual sales, how many consumer trades were appraised, and how many sales were lost. [0093] To address the consumer and product information opportunities, system 20 leverages the wireless environment provided to dealers for their wholesale and inventory activities to capture and transfer the appropriate information at the right time. The present invention consumer information systems will enable the sales force to easily capture their consumer's demographic and contact data in a non-intrusive way by scanning their driver's license in various ways depending upon the state. Because a copy of the driver's license may be required by the dealer's insurance policy for test-drives, the process will be reasonable for consumers and less intrusive than writing it down. The digital information will serve as a guide for marketing and inventory while also providing a basis for a relationship management system.

[0094] When a consumer 76 for example enters a dealership, a sales agent scans the consumer's license or gets his/her information in some other way. The license can hold personal information either in the form of a PDF417 strip, a magnetic barcode, or both, and system 20 handhelds (not shown) will be able to read any of these formats. In addition, a sales agent will also be able to enter information manually.

[0095] This consumer contact information pulled by sales agent goes to a Consumer Contact Database which may be owned by the business itself. A consumer id may be assigned as part of the dealer digital log (DDL) that tracks the consumer all the way through the aforementioned metasystem. The Consumer Contact Database may interface with a Global Contact Database to get Additional Consumer Data (ACD) about the consumer. The Global Contact Database may also pull the consumer's credit score (not report) if necessary and feed it back to the sales agent, who can instantly make a decision about whether the person qualifies for a sale or not. This information in turn feeds the vehicle sales pipeline based on ability of the consumer to buy. [0096] Retail Product Information Sub-system

[0097] Retail Product Information Sub-system 106 may enable all carmakers and suppliers to upload feature and benefit information, video, and animations to the vehicle database for system 20. Moreover, carmakers will be able to target their feature and benefit information or video at specific consumers by simply matching that collateral with demographics in system 20. As a result, the sales force will be able to provide rich information about every vehicle and option specifically tailored for each consumer in real time, thus, selling the options, features, and benefits as well as ownership. [0098] While automobile sales people are well trained in procedures and tactics, they fall very short in product training as a group. Presenting a considerable challenge to product training may be the turnover found in the turn-and-burn of dealerships, equaling over 70 percent annually in personnel with even greater turnover rates in sales. Such instability results in low effort towards the critical element of product knowledge. Thus, the sales force provides consumers with little value in terms of product information and as such, a tremendous amount of value and sales are lost since most consumers cannot appreciate the product value to the extent that it exists. The Internet provides a great resource for product information. In fact, studies assert that over 70 percent of consumers' research on the Internet before purchasing a vehicle. For many, product research prior to a vehicle purchase would indicate a counterbalance to poor product training. A study by J.D. Power and Associates concludes that the Internet-educated consumers tend to be far less satisfied in the purchase experience. With access to vast information, the consumer simply knows when they are not getting correct information. Since automobile sales take place at a dealership and not on the Internet, enabling the sales force with real time feature and benefit information may be a big opportunity.

[0099] Initial qualifying questions (based on the consumer information from aforedescribed Consumer Data Elicitation Sub-system 104) may be asked by the salesperson when a consumer walks into the store. The question list may be provided to the sales agent on their handheld. The dealer can set the string of initial qualifying questions to ask in the aforedescribed Vehicle Retail Sales Administration Sub-system 94. Dealer 78 may choose to ask either the carmaker's questions or tailor the initial set of questions himself or decide to ask none. A Targeted Demographic Application may contain qualifying questions and what order they need to be asked in to a consumer. There are manufacturer questions that are targeted to a particular consumer demographic as well as the dealers own questions that are created by the dealer. The outcome of each question decides the next question. These questions help the dealer decide how to proceed with a consumer and at the end of the questions, there might be the need to use vehicle decision modeler (VDM) to decide what car may be best suited to the consumer. If there may be not enough information to narrow down consumer information to recommend a car, then the system may recommend a VDM. [0100] Once the sales force has introduced themselves as well as their dealership and digitally captured the consumer's information, system 20 enables the sales force to easily enter the consumer's vehicle, budget, and delivery time criteria into a handheld or into a showroom kiosk. In response, system 20 shows a list of all vehicles that qualify in the dealer's inventory and in the present invention markets. If the vehicle is in the dealer's inventory, the sales representative can simply direct the consumer to that vehicle and/or other qualifying vehicles in stock. If the vehicle system 20 in the market, the representative can direct the consumer to the closest qualifying unit in stock for demonstration purposes and/or simply review those vehicles in the showroom on a large monitor. [0101] Either way, system 20 provides an excellent feature and benefit presentation for every vehicle and option as well as comparison information in real time. A Targeted product data applications system may contain this kind of vehicle product data and provides this information to Retail Product Information Sub-system 106. If the consumer requests a used vehicle, system 20 also provides an extremely detailed and guaranteed vehicle representation for every unit in the markets by virtue of the present invention certified inspection, which will apply to every vehicle in stock that has been inspected. Li short, the combination of real time and interactive feature and benefit information with market leverage maximizes consumer satisfaction, vehicle sales, and profits.

[0102] A Vehicle Decision Modeler helps the sales person narrow down what kind of car the consumer may want by asking questions about makes, models, consumer needs and features. The decision to invoke the Vehicle Decision Modeler automatically or not may be also specified in the aforementioned Vehicle Retail Sales Administration Sub-system 94. The sales agent cannot decide to use the Decision Modeler or not. However, he can choose to skip questions if he thinks they are not necessary. A consumer digital log may be also maintained which enables an intra-day sales pipeline and enables dealer to know which dealer served a returning consumer and what options were given to them and so on. [0103] Vehicle Wholesale Market Leverage Sub-system

[0104] Referring to Fig. 6, Vehicle Wholesale Market Leverage (VWML) Sub-system 108 takes the aforementioned Vehicle Retail Sales Administration Sub-system 94, where the dealer had entered his margin over the vehicles in the wholesale market that he qualifies to buy. VWML Sub-system 108 also takes a Market Vehicle Searching System, which uses carmaker administration and already determines what he qualifies to buy (what brand etc). The dealer may also assign a dollar amount advantage (on top of his margin) to his own inventory over all other inventories in the present invention. This means all the other vehicles in the present invention market will be more expensive than the vehicles in the dealers own inventory. Because of the added dollar value advantage, it may be more beneficial for dealer 78 to sell the car in the market because of the added dollar value provided. The benefit added lets the dealer perform a search including this price in the cost of the car. When a criterion may be entered in "Sales Force Mode", it does not require biometric security because the sales person does not have purchasing power.

[0105] Once the consumer finds something he wants, if the consumer has a trade in, a Vehicle Valuation Appraisal Sub-system 110 (described below) may be used, or else a Pentagon Retail Negotiation Sub-system 112 (described below) may be used. The purchase process begins at this point.

[0106] For vehicles in the wholesale markets, six exemplary market factors of wholesale trade for any vehicle are: seller's price: the asking or negotiated price that the seller must sell for in the market; freight cost: the actual cost of automobile transportation from the seller to the buyer; freight time: the actual time of automobile transportation from the seller to the buyer; reconditioning cost: the actual cost of vehicle servicing to consumer ready status; reconditioning time: the actual time of vehicle servicing to consumer ready status; and buyer fee: the total buyer's transaction fees or costs for a vehicle wholesale purchase. System 20 enables continuous access, accurate transparency prior to trade, and integrated execution of those factors. Moreover, system 20 absolutely guarantees all vehicle representations, deliveries, titles, and payments for all wholesale transactions, which will also be a first. With those capabilities, system 20 includes a seventh factor that will enable dealers to leverage the wholesale market as their own inventory. The seventh factor may be the dealer has desired profit margin over the total cost of all market factors for each vehicle. Dealers will simply enter and adjust as necessary their desired profit margin as a dollar amount and/or percentage in system 20. With market leverage, dealers will be able to effectively retail vehicles that are in the wholesale market to their consumers in real time, thereby increasing their inventory from a few hundred new and used vehicles on average to hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions.

[0107] Currently, most consumers eventually tire of searching and actually accept what may be available rather than selecting what they want or they simply postpone their purchase. That reality results in high inventories, vehicle value reductions, hyper-competition, lost sales, and less profit. System 20 market leverage vastly improves the dealer's ability to provide what their consumers want in real time. As a certain result, consumer satisfaction and thus, vehicle sales, prices, and profits will increase.

[0108] Once the sales force has introduced themselves as well as their dealership and digitally captured the consumer's information, system 20 enables the sales force to easily enter the consumer's vehicle, budget, and delivery time criteria into the present invention handheld or into a showroom kiosk. In response, system 20 shows a list of all vehicles that qualify in the dealer's inventory and in the markets using system 20. If the vehicle may be in the dealer's inventory (i.e. goods 72), the sales representative can simply direct the consumer to that vehicle and/or other qualifying vehicles in stock. If the vehicle may be in the markets for system 20 (i.e. good 74), the representative can direct consumer 76 to the closest qualifying unit in stock for demonstration purposes and/or simply review those vehicles in the showroom on a large monitor. Either way, system 20 provides an excellent feature and benefit presentation for every vehicle and option as well as comparison information in real time. If consumer 76 requests a used vehicle, the system will also provide an extremely detailed and guaranteed vehicle representation for every unit in the markets by virtue of the present invention certified inspection, which will apply to every vehicle in stock that has been inspected, hi short, the combination of real time and interactive feature and benefit information with market leverage will maximize consumer satisfaction, vehicle sales, and profits.

[0109] Depending upon how dealer 78 sets up their process, each vehicle on a consumer's list can include the: 1) retail price; 2) delivery time; 3) cash down; 4) monthly payment; and 5) lease payment - on the lot and in the dealer's showroom. The finance and lease payments will be calculated by matching the consumer data captured at the outset with a baseline credit score database, thereby enabling a non-intrusive process without a credit application and/or report until appropriate. Because market leverage will maximize retail and thus, wholesale values while the markets will minimize trade cost, dealers will be able to easily wholesale aging stock, thereby minimizing inventory pressure. Since retail prices will include profit margin, it will be simply irrelevant to the dealer if maximum profit may be realized from stock or in the markets. Albeit an unnecessary reduction of profits, dealers will be able to . increase the likelihood of their vehicles in stock or in a dealer group moving to the top of the search results with a dollar amount advantage over units in the present invention, thereby maintain total control.

[0110] Vehicle Valuation Appraisal Sub-system

[0111] The salesperson specifies what inspections to perform in the aforementioned Vehicle Retail Sales Administration Sub-system 94. Dealer 78 can specify the list of inspections to use based on the year, make, and model of the vehicle being appraised. Vehicle Valuation Appraisal Sub-system 110 takes the results and uses the Automobile Valuation system described in the aforementioned copending application titled, "System and Method for Tangible Good Valuation," to determine the value. An appraisal may be not for entering the vehicle into the market. Only an inspection via system 20 can enter a vehicle into the market. The appraisal may be for trade in only. System 20 thus guarantees 98% of this value or better. If a dealer misrepresents the car, then system 20 will not guarantee the whole value of the car.

[0112] Pentagon Retail Negotiation Sub-system

[0113] Pentagon Retail Negotiation (PRN) Sub-system 112 creates the deal for the consumer. PRN Sub-system 112 consists of Name, Cust ID, and VDSf of the car they are looking at, their trade in (if applicable), and pay off (if applicable). PRN Sub-system 112 shows the amount of cash down, amount of payment, lease options, the months, the term, and interest rate etc. The dealer can decide what the consumer gets to see (partial or full list of 21 options above in VRSA Sub-system 94). This information may be presented graphically to show the consumer. If the user wants to negotiate on the payments without changing his cash down, then the dealer can maintain his margin without reducing the overall cost, by finding a new comparable car, and using the buyer's down payment in the market to negotiate a deal with the seller in the marketplace.

[0114] Lending Wholesale Market Leverage Sub-system [0115] When a gap exists between consumer wants and needs, finance company capabilities and offerings, and dealer vehicle availability, the present invention has a solution for the dealer. Should financing not be available for a vehicle the dealer has acquired on behalf of a potential buyer, that dealer may resort to returning the vehicle to the marketplace without penalty via Lending Wholesale Market Leverage Sub-system 114. [0116] Vehicle Consumer Relation Sub-system

[0117] A Consumer Relationship Management (CRM) system may encompass processes which support the creation and maintenance of successful consumer relationships. The CRM database and the application integrate with system 20, such that the architecture of system 20 enhances the integration of the CRM system and the sales force automation application. Today's CRM systems fall short of meeting dealers' requirements, and in many cases, dealers do not use CRM systems. To address this shortcoming, the present invention will customize an existing CRM system to meet all dealer consumer management needs. [0118] A Consumer Contact Database (CCD) of the CRM system will accept general information about that consumer; the remainder of the fields will be populated by an external database, the General Consumer Database (GCD), an existing source of consumer information. Transactions or events generated by the present invention consumer related applications are automatically logged by the CRM system. In sum, the present invention architecture enables and supports the automated capture of information at various points in the sales process and its entry into the CRM database. The obvious benefit to the dealer sales force may be the savings of time and the reduction of errors.

[0119] Minimally, a name, phone number and salesperson's name are needed to initiate a consumer file. CRM feeds the Vehicle Sales Pipeline (a part of the Vehicle Consumer Relation Sub-system 116). Vehicle Consumer Relation Sub-system 116 performs sales force automation such as VSP, forecasting, and automated callback. It may be a customized integration customization of existing CRM applications.

[0120] There are various activities which will initiate a consumer relationship and the creation of consumer data in Vehicle Consumer Relation Sub-system 116. An example may be consumer data elicitation (via the aforedescribed Consumer Data Elicitation Sub-system) via the system 20 handheld in the present invention wireless environment; a CRM file may be opened for the salesperson and the consumer relationship may be established. [0121] Consumer information arriving via the web or email can also initiate the creation of consumer data. Lastly, a potential consumer may also initiate the creation of consumer data when he/she calls the dealership and the receptionist gathers basic contact information. [0122] Vehicle Service Integrations Sub-system

[0123] Vehicle Service Integrations Sub-system (VSIS) 118 stores the services, and any reconditioning work a consumer did at the dealership. It stores this info in a Futures Inspection Approval System, described in detail in copending application titled, "System and Method for Inventory Control," filed June 27, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, in a consumer file. VSIS 118 provides the reconditioner the capability to determine what the rates are, and provide specific conditions within market, to clarify the scheduling and payment. VSIS 118 also includes the labor rate and capabilities for each specific mechanic. In this regard, dealer 78 may select the database they want to use (Chilton, Mitchell), they enter in any flat rates, (the options come from a Flatrate Configuration Database) prices, and labor rates. This information may be later used in a Market Vehicle Searching System, also described in copending application titled, "System and Method for Inventory Control," to give the price of the vehicle when a search may be performed. Mechanical database selection includes hours and parts needed (Chilton/Mitchell). Prices for parts can also be found here but could OE Exchange to get prices for wholesale part prices.

[0124] VSIS 118 includes everything in a Vehicle Reconditioning system but for dealers. Referring to Fig. 7, below are some of the Sub-systems that work within VSIS 118. [0125] Service Consumer Information (SCI) Sub-system: By wirelessly scanning the consumer's DL with a system 20 handheld inside of the DWE, SCI Sub-system 142 creates a digital traffic log (DTL) and CRM files. The SCI can also include a short questionnaire to assist the service writer in qualifying the vehicle service needs and wants of the consumer. [0126] Vehicle Service Data (VSD) Sub-system: VSD Sub-system 144 is similar to the inspection system and enables the service writer to scan the VIN and pull data such as sales and vehicle history as well as recalls. In addition, VSD appraises for additional service such as dent repair while discerning vehicle value to propose a payment for new vehicle trade. [0127] Labor Scheduling Application (LSA) Sub-system: LSA Sub-system 146 enables service technicians to enter and adjust their scheduled hours from work or home into a calendar interface for approval by service management. Moreover, LSA also enables management to assign certifications and capabilities to each technician as well as labor rates. [0128] Parts Inventory Interface (PII) Sub-system: PII Sub-system 148 integrates the capabilities of a parts inventory and exchange system such as OEConnection (http://www.oeconnection.com) into the service assignment interface (SAI) for accurate and efficient estimating and execution of vehicle parts with the vehicle service and collision repair applications.

[0129] Service Capacity Calendar (SCS) Sub-system: SCS Sub-system 150 combines the LSA, PII and all current assignments to continuously discern vehicle service and collision repair capacity. SCS enables the integration of service appointments with the dealer's website and reconditioning with wholesale trade while increasing service assignment efficiency. [0130] Service Assignment Interface (SAI) Sub-system: Once the service writer has consumer information with SCI and vehicle data with VSD, SAI Sub-system 152 enables the service writer to wirelessly up-sell services, create the initial repair order, open a consumer self-service account on the dealer's website, and assign the repair order to the right technician. [0131] Service Consumer Management (SCM) Sub-system: Just like vehicle sales, the best result may be a great relationship with the service consumer. To that end, SCM Sub-system 154 enables lead assignment from many sources with instant notification and easy reassignment. SCM includes seamless Microsoft Office integration for calendaring, tasking, and email.

[0132] Website Service Interaction (WSI) Sub-system: For every sales or service consumer, WSI automatically creates a self-service account on the dealer's website with a username am Ld password based on data provided by VCM and SCM. WSI Sub-system 156 includes veh diecllee ssaalleess aanndd sseerrvviiccee interaction capabilities based on data from ASM and SAI. [0133] Service Consumer Analytics (SCA) Sub-system: SCA Sub-system 158 provides management and sales with real time analysis of leads and consumers by sources such as website, phone, and the dealership. In graphical format, SCA shows the entire sales pipeline from initiation through completion as well as sales by assignment type and technician. [0134] Service Sales Management (SSM) Sub-system: Objectives are just as important for vehicle service as sales. Thus, SSM Sub-system 160 assists management and service writers with forecasting and tracking their monthly opportunities, services sales, and up-sells by assignment type and margin according to sales history, the pipeline, and other factors. [0135] Dealership Ecommerce Management Sub-system

[0136] System 20 allows automatic entry and exit therein. Dealership Ecommerce Management (DEM) Sub-system 120 gets the information, logos, franchise, people, inventory, location, contact, bios of sales force, etc from the databases. This enables the dealer to run his dealership virtually since all the information may be available on the web at a specific website-flash template. There could be 500 templates of flash developed, a dealer could choose one and the system would get the logo, employee information, inventory etc and develop the webpage for the end users. Standard templates may be provided, for example, if one dealer selects a template in one Area of Dominant Influence (ADI), then the template may be no longer available to other dealers in that ADI. The dealers can go back into the system, choose another template, and change his/her flash website in a couple of minutes. DEM Subsystem 120 enables dealer 78 to automate the inventory and coordinate with the CRM to maximize sales. DEM Sub-system 120 has other capabilities like auto response; however, this comes mainly from CRM. On the dealers website the dealer can have Market Leverage (the consumer searches the inventory of the dealer, and all of the present invention for that inventory, same capabilities as you get in the aforedescribed Vehicle Wholesale Market Leverage system 108). The retail consumer can see the pricing if the dealer allows it, pricing from the present invention will have a premium to add for dealer profit. [0137] Referring to Fig. 8, below are some of the Sub-systems that work within DEM Subsystem 120.

[0138] Dealer Website Application (DWA) Sub-system: DWA Sub-system 162 may be a dealer interface that controls the look, feel, functionality, and systems integration of the dealer's website. DWA enables a dealer to select from various website templates and integrate vehicle sales appointments, vehicle service calendar and transit, as well as inventory updating. [0139] Dealer Website Collateral (DWC) Sub-system: In a slightly different format than DMD, DWC Sub-system 164 enables creative firms to sell dealer specific multimedia services to dealers for websites, including video interviews and flash presentations for digital dealerships layout and dealer logo. Once produced, the collateral can be utilized on the site forever.

[0140] Dealer Website Templates (DWT) Sub-system: Much like the prefabricated collateral system, DWT Sub-system 166 enables creative firms to market high quality website templates to dealers. Once the dealer selects or changes the template, DWT cohesively inserts dealer specific collateral from the DWC to publish a highly polished dealer specific website. [0141] Dealer Website Distribution (DWD) Sub-system: DWM Sub-system 168 enables various websites within the dealer's DIA, such as a local news station, to sell website advertising to a dealer. DWM also enables a dealer to view statistics, cost of the space, select a website, as well as transfer their Web address and digital collateral from DWC to the website.

[0142] Dealer Personnel Biographies (DPB) Sub-system: DPB Sub-system 170 enables dealer management to create personnel bios within the user administration system (UAS) to publish employee information on the dealer's website. Because the UAS interacts with employee's calendars, a consumer can schedule an appointment with a specific representative. [0143] Website Inventory Integration (WII) Sub-system: Based on category and pricing established in the dealer inventory suite, WII Sub-system 172 combines the new and used vehicle inventories with the used vehicle inspections and vehicle data system to publish and continuously update (availability) new and used vehicle inventories on the dealer's website. [0144] National Website Integration (NWI) Sub-system: Regardless of the efficiencies of system 20, the best result for inventory may be maximum exposure. As such, NWI Subsystem 174 enables the dealer to easily transfer inventory with complete sales integration to AutoTrader (www.autotrader.com) for used vehicles and (www.msnauto.com) for new vehicles.

[0145] Consumer Website Account (CWA) Sub-system: While a consumer can create his or her own account within the website of dealer 78, CWA utilizes consumer data from the vehicle sales and service suites to create consumer accounts automatically. With CWA Subsystem 176, consumer 76 can securely interact with sales and service from home or work. [0146] Vehicle Sales Interaction (VSI) Sub-system: VSI Sub-system 178 enables the consumer to shop the inventory of dealer 78 and/or the market of system 20 on the dealers' website and schedule an appointment with vehicle sales or a specific representative. While a dealer cannot leverage system 20 on a national website, they can leverage system 20 on their own website.

[0147] Vehicle Service Calendar (VSC) Sub-system: VSC Sub-system 180 is an extension of the vehicle service suite and continuously monitors service capacity. As such, the consumer can accurately schedule their own service appointments and have their vehicle picked-up and/or dropped from home and/ work by the dealer and/or the freight exchange. [0148] Vehicle Service Transit (VST Sub-system): VST Sub-system 182 is an interface that enables the service department to monitor transit requests for vehicle service, pick-up, and drop-off vehicles with internal employees, and/or utilize the freight exchange (drive service or rollback) for transit. VST Sub-system 182 also enables the dealer to subsidize external transit cost.

[0149] Vehicle Service Ordering (VSO) Sub-system: As another extension of the vehicle service suite, VSO Sub-system 184 enables a consumer to view the state and progress of a vehicle service order, including the technicians notes, and thus, approve or disapprove proposed work. Moreover, VSO Sub-system 184 alerts the consumer of completion or when interaction may be required.

[0150] Certified Vehicle Appraisal (CVA) Sub-system: Consumer trade-ins are one of several factors that thwart the potential of automotive e-commerce. CVA Sub-system 186 enables a consumer to order and electronically pay for a certified appraisal and guaranteed valuation that may be dealer exclusive from the present invention inspection team at their home or place of work.

[0151] Trade-in Appraisal Subsidy (TAS) Sub-system: Since a standardized appraisal (a consumer may be unlikely to get more for their trade elsewhere) combine with the ability of a consumer to locate whatever they may reasonably want on the dealer's site may be such a power proposition, TAS Sub-system 188 enables a dealer to subsidize all or part of the CVA cost.

[0152] Consumer Trade Leverage (CTL) Sub-system: Sometimes the consumer will owe too much on their trade or want more for the vehicle than market value. Assuming CVA, CTL Sub-system 148 enables a dealer to assist the consumer by retailing the trade, which includes the dealer's profit margin. CTL Sub-system 190 requires the consumer to update mileage weekly.

[0153] Cosmetic Service Repairs (CSR) Sub-system: Given the advances and cost of automobiles combined with undesirable cosmetic damage realized through use, cosmetic repair may be an important part of vehicle service. In the dealer's website, CSR Sub-system 192 enables the consumer to order dent, paint, carpet, and upholstery repair at their home or work.

[0154] Vehicle Repair Markup (VRM) Sub-system: The cost of CSR may be based on the prices established by local and national firms (members) that specialize in mobilized cosmetic vehicle repairs. VRM Sub-system 194 enables the cosmetic repair firms to set their price (base cost) by market while enabling the dealer to establish a margin over the based cost. [0155] Cosmetic Repair Services (CRS) Sub-system: With the same type of proficiency and calendar tracking systems as the vehicle inspection system, CRS Sub-system 196 enables services like Dent Wizard (http://dentwiz.com/site/US/EN/index.htm) to efficiently and effectively scale and respond to consumer and dealer demand for vehicle cosmetic repair. [0156] Indirect Lending Application (ILA) Sub-system: Consumer finance is another factor that limits automotive e-commerce potential. ILA Sub-system 198 utilizes ILI (operations suite) to enable real time transfer of credit application data and approval from the dealer's website. Consumer application approval can originate from the sales suite or the website.

[01571 Continuous Vehicle Searching (CVS) Sub-system: CVS Sub-system 200 enables a consumer to enter vehicle, price, and finance criteria in the dealer's website and receive a (daily, weekly, or monthly) list of vehicles that qualify. CVS Sub-system 200 may include the consumer's trade value and payoff as well as preestablished indirect lending approval and conditions.

[0158] Dealer Consumer Account Sub-system

[0159] Dealer Consumer Account (DCA) Sub-system 122 may be the actual account of consumer 76, where the consumer can schedule service or interact with the dealership. The consumer can log into his/her account, and view the car in 3D. If applicable, the consumer can also log a complaint about a part and/or compliment a part. The manufacturer receives the data and uses it to make adjustments. [0160] Dealer Consumer Surveying Sub-system

[0161] Dealer Consumer Surveying (DCS) Sub-system 124 may consist of various surveys, which the manufacturer can use to build a vehicle the consumer desires (the manufacture can pay the consumer for this information).

[0162] Referring to Fig. 9, below are some of the Sub-systems that work within DCS Subsystem 124.

[0163] Consumer Interaction Interfaces (CII) Sub-system: Cu Sub-system 202 enables the dealers and carmakers to obtain different consumer statements, opinions, and attitudes towards the automotive experience as well as advertisements, brands, and models in such a way that all consumer information may be protected and consumer sentiments are quantifiable.

[0164] Consumer Interaction Applications (CIA) Sub-system: The consumer survey system may be a set of web-based applications that enable direct and secure consumer access from an industry generated email or the dealer's website. CIA Sub-system 204 automatically establishes consumer accounts based on data originated from the sales and e-commerce suites. [0165] Activities, Interest, Opinion (AIO) Sub-system: Based on the data provided by the sales and e-commerce suites, AIO Sub-system 206 automatically establishes a basic socio- economic consumer profile. Moreover, AIO Sub-system 206 enables the consumer to intuitively update and/or answer predefined lifestyle questions, which will more precisely define the consumer.

[0166] Behavioral Segmentation Analysis (BSA) Sub-system: BSA Sub-system 208 enables a survey administrator to define and monitor target market behavior based geographic and demographic factors as well as on socio-economic characterizations such as income, buying practices, product uses, and product attitude throughout any survey analysis. [0167] Consumer Interaction Control (CIC) Sub-system: From the CIC interface 210, the consumer may be able to select what type of surveys they are interested in completing. While the consumer will automatically receive a dealership sales or service satisfaction survey, they may also select general industry attitudes and/or product opinion surveys. [0168] Consumer Target Administration (CTA) Sub-system: Once an administrator (manufacturer/dealer) has entered the CII, CTA Sub-system 212 enables the administrator to select all possible participants or easily target a specific group of potential participants for the survey based on socio-economic characteristics through a wizard-type intuitive interface. [0169] Manufacturer Survey Control (MSC) Sub-system: The consumer surveys are centrally stored electronic applications that are accessed and controlled via a secure web interface. Through the MSC Sub-system 214, the carmaker can easily create and adjust consumer and employee satisfaction surveys as well as advertising and product opinion surveys.

[0170] Object Inclusion Interface (Oil) Sub-system: During the survey design and/or adjustment, Oil Sub-system 216 enables an administrator to easily add voice and video to a survey as well as fully interactive three-dimensional product imaging. As such, consumer opinions of products and advertising can assist product production, distribution, and marketing. [0171 ] Survey Branding Interface (SBI) Sub-system: SBI Sub-system 218 enables the dealers, carmakers, and tier suppliers to easily insert their branding within the surveys. While a carmaker may want to brand a dealer survey, a carmaker may prefer no brand when surveying consumer sentiments about a product or advertising theme versus the competition. [0172] Consumer Survey Access (CSA) Sub-system: Industry access to consumer sentiments may be critical. CSA Sub-system 220 enables dealers to grant survey access to their consumer accounts created in the sales and service suites or their website. By granting access, the dealer's operational and benchmarking applications will benefit from the aggregate data.

[0173] Dealer Survey Control (DSC) Sub-system: For new vehicle and certified sales, specific consumer data (name, address, etc.) may be already shared with the carmaker. DSC Sub-system 222 enables dealers to control data (specific, aggregate, or none) sharing about missed and potential consumers as well as what type of surveys are offered to their consumers.

[0174] Dealer Survey Rewards (DSR) Sub-system: Consumers tend to avoid surveys unless they are upset about service, thus skewing data. Consumers are more likely to provide honest and thoughtful responses if compensated for their time. DSR Sub-system 224 enables a carmaker to compensate a consumer for completing a dealership satisfaction survey. [0175] Consumer Opinion Rewards (COR) Sub-system: COR Sub-system 226 enables a carmaker or tier supplier to reward consumers for the completion of surveys regarding vehicles, options, advertisements, brand attitudes, and market comparisons with considerations such as product discounts, gasoline, and/or vehicle service certificates at their dealer.

[0176] Consumer Rewards Transfer (CRT) Sub-system: Once the survey may be complete, CRT Sub-system 228 digitally transfers the reward to the dealer in the consumer's name. If the reward may be for product or service discount, the reward may be realized at the dealer. If the reward may be for gas, the certificate may be redeemable at the dealer's established gas station account.

[0177] Reward Settlement System (RSS) Sub-system: RSS Sub-system 230 enables carmakers and dealers to share the cost of a reward as a percentage of the reward, e.g. 80/20. Moreover, RSS Sub-system 230 also invoices the manufacturer while automatically compensating the dealer based on reward activity. AU accounts are settled through the clearinghouse system. [0178] Rapid Consumer Survey (RCS) Sub-system: RCS Sub-system 232 may be a brief survey that maybe emailed to consumers subsequent to a visiting a dealership or the dealer's website. The questions posed within the survey are based on the interactions and results recorded within the sales and service suites or the website, e.g. product, service, functionality, etc.

[0179] Missed Opportunity Survey (MOS) Sub-system: As part of RCS Sub-system 232, MOS Sub-system 234 may be a survey dealing with consumers that did not purchase a product or service. Moreover, MOS Sub-system 234 may limit the survey questions based on actual interactions as recorded by the sales and service suite, including the dealer representative, product, service, and/or pricing.

[0180] Dealer Experience Survey (DES) Sub-system: As part of RCS Sub-system 232, DES Sub-system 236 may be a survey dealing with consumers that actually purchased a product and/or service from their dealer. Based on the interactions and results as recorded by the sales and services suites, DES Sub-system 236 surveys elements such as environment, processes, products, and people.

[0181] Dealer Referral Survey (DRS) Sub-system: DRS Sub-system 238 surveys missed, potential, and current consumers of franchised dealers for both sales and service to determine if the consumer would refer the dealer and/or the representative to someone they know and if so, to what degree. DRS results are instantly routed to sales and service systems. [0182] Instant Response Integration (IRI) Sub-system: While the ability to garner product, distribution, marketing, and training insight through survey analysis may be important, rapidly responding to consumer concerns may be critical. IRI Sub-system 240 instantly routes analysis and concerns to preestablished dealer and carmaker applications such as VCM and SCM.

[0183] Consumer Follow-up Sub-system (CFS): As part of IRI, CFS 242 enables sales management to effectively respond to consumer concerns by routing results to VCM and SCM, e.g. a consumer may be satisfied with place, product, and price but unsatisfied with the person: management reassigns the account to another representative. [0184] Characteristic Matching Sub-system (CMS): As part of CFS Sub-system 242 and the sales management system, CMS 244 quantifies the socio-economic characteristics of the consumer and the sales force and thus, CFS may be able to provide sales management with a list of the most appropriate representatives (by score) to interact with each consumer. [0185] Characteristic Matching Engine (CME) Sub-system: To support CMS 244, CME Sub-system 246 utilizes data from two sources, 1) sales results from the sales and service suites and, 2) consumer sentiments from the survey suite. As such, CME Sub-system 246 may be able to continuously calculate the most appropriate characteristics between the representative and consumer.

[0186] Ongoing Survey Sub-system (OSS): Unlike the rapid system, OSS Sub-system 248 focuses on consumer sentiments over time. In addition to dealing with dealer and current product surveying over time, OSS also deals with future product desirability and targeting, pre and post advertising analysis, market attitudes, and consumer readiness. [0187] Product Design Testing (PDT) Sub-system: In three-dimensional format, BMT enables a carmaker to transfer computer-aided designs (CAD) of a vehicle and specific options to specific consumers based on socio-economic factors for testing potential products and defining their market. PDT Sub-system 250 can include blind (without brand) or brand specific.

[0188] Dimensional Product Survey (DPS) Sub-system: For new and used vehicle consumers, DPS Sub-system 252 provides a fully interactive three-dimensional graphical representation of their vehicle, including color. With DPS, the consumer can rate the style, usability, and reliability of any exterior or interior part of their vehicle by selecting the component.

[0189] Ongoing Product Satisfaction (OPS) Sub-system: OPS Sub-system 254 may be a consumer survey that measures product satisfaction and usage, including elements such as style, ergonomics, features, functionally, handling, reliability, mileage, and loyalty. The OPS surveys the consumer, for example, at 30, 90, and 180 days as well as yearly throughout ownership.

[0190] Future Product Survey (FPT) Sub-system: Similarly, to DPS Sub-system 252, FPT Sub-system 256 enables manufacturers to obtain consumer sentiments on future products with a fully interactive three-dimensional graphic representation of a vehicle or a specific feature. FPT Sub-system 256 enables the manufacturer to survey other elements such as the product name and price point.

[0191] Current Product Analysis (CPA) Sub-system: CPA Sub-system 258 enables the manufacturers to better understand how consumers are reacting to the features, functionality, and style of current products over time according to socio-economic characteristics. CPA Sub-system 258 also provides indicators such as early defect warnings and long-term product valuations.

[0192] Future Product Analysis (FPA) Sub-system: FPA Sub-system 260 enables the manufacturers to better understand the consumer demand for future products based on design, functionality, and price. Furthermore, the manufacturer can compare the consumer sentiments towards various product considerations versus many socio-economic characteristics.

[0193] Dealer Survey Analytics (DSA) Sub-system: DSA Sub-system 262 captures and transfers consumer ratings of the dealer's vehicle sales and services operations to the sales and services applications for benchmarking. To improve the accuracy of inventory intelligence, DSA Sub-system 220 transfers regional and local consumer product sentiments to the inventory suite.

[0194] Consumer Attribution Index (CAI) Sub-system: CAI Sub-system 264 may be a survey measuring the consumer's evaluations of one or many firms, brands, segments and/or models based on previous experiences and/or consumer perceptions through actual use or word of mouth. The CAI survey can be blind (without branding) or include a company logo. [0195] Consumer Attribution Analysis (CAA) Sub-system: CAA Sub-system 266 may be an analytical system that enables manufacturers to examine the degree and origin of predisposed attitudes towards firms, brands, segments and/or models. In addition, CAA Subsystem 266 enables an analyst to narrow and compare the results to and by any socio- economic characteristic.

[0196] Advanced Advertising Testing (AAT) Sub-system: CAS enables manufacturers to survey consumer sentiments of the message, quality, relevance, creativity, and believability of a specific or series of advertisements before a campaign begins. AAT Sub-system 268 results will indicate if the ad will effectively communicate with the target audience. [0197] Consumer Response Index (CRI) Sub-system Sub-system: CRI Sub-system 270 may include a post-advertising survey that measures the consumer awareness and attitude of a specific message, an advertisement, an entire campaign, and/or a competitor's marketing efforts. Moreover, CRI will also analyze post-advertising CAI changes by socio-economic characteristic.

[0198] Mail Survey Sub-system (MSS): MSS 272 Integrates with MOS in the marketing suite to distribute any survey by mail. MSS enables an administrator to easily expand the audience of a dealer, product, or advertising survey to the consumers that do not have email by selecting the desired percentage of the preestablished targeted group. [0199] Focus Group Elicitation (FGE) Sub-system: For reasons such as confidentially, a carmaker or tier supplier may prefer a live focus group rather than electronic interaction. FGE Sub-system 274 enables an administrator to create a focus group from established consumer accounts by choosing the date, region, group size, group characteristics, and reward.

[0200] Vertical Relationship Survey (VRS) Sub-system: Industry relationships are a critical component of industry effectiveness. VRS Sub-system 276 includes a quarterly survey that ascertains the sentiments of franchise dealers and tier X suppliers towards the carmakers and vice versa, thereby enabling industry participants to evaluate business- relational opportunities.

[0201] Survey Costing Interface (SCI Sub-system): As a survey may be constructed, SCI Sub-system 278 will continuously calculate and provide the administrator with the overall cost and time of the survey, regardless of the survey type (dealer, product, or advertising,) or the survey means, (electronic, mail, or focus group,) including the cost of survey rewards. [0202] National Survey Indices (NSI) Sub-system: NSI Sub-system 280 includes a group of industry-wide periodic surveys and results that integrates with dealer and manufacturer operational applications for trending and benchmarking purposes. Assuming the dealer enables survey access to the consumer, the dealer will enjoy the benefits of NSI data integration.

[0203] Dealership Marketing Administration

[0204] As shown in Fig. 10, the Dealership Marketing Administration (DMA) Sub-system 126 addresses member administration 282, demographic targeting 284, manufacturer promotions 286 and media intelligence 288. Marketing Media Integration Sub-system 128 (discussed below) also addresses template selection 290, target selection 292, media exchange 294 and media traffic 296.

Ϊ0205) For example, the US market may be worth over 17 billion dollars in terms of advertising. System 20 estimates at least 20% of that 17 billion may be pure waste. The present invention media exchange system stores templates of advertising for print, direct, radio, television, billboard, and web (see Fig. 10). These are all exchanges that interact with the template database. Medium providers like newspapers, radio channels etc. can bid on advertising spots. Dealers can pull templates and use them to create spots for advertising. The templates are categorized by demographics, effectiveness rating and so on. Within DMA Sub-system 126 for example, a media company could put in the space they have for various slots of TV for a particular day, the auto dealers can bid on the slot, negotiate real time, and purchase the slots on the web. The media companies can also reduce their prices as the time draws near for the slot depending on the space sold. [0206] An Industry Advertising Administration handles the membership administration for print, TV, radio and other advertising media providing companies.

[0207] The system contains a demographic targeting system which tells the dealership what their best selling demographic may be and what demographic they need to target in their advertising. There is also a media intelligence component that tells the success rate by demographic of a particular template. Carmakers can publish and adjust the demographic targets for each specific model variation. As the data may be entered, the system juxtaposes the data with actual sales data to adjust the target and thus, enable the dealer and carmaker to more effectively reach the audience.

[0208] The user will select templates for different radio, TV, print and other mediums and create ads from them instead of creating new ones. This will reduce advertising costs and make advertising cheaper and more effective. DMA Sub-system 126 also gives overall intelligence on statistics on marketing dollars etc. member administration, demographic targeting, manufacturer promotions (where manufacturers can download promotions to the present invention and dealers can download the latest promotions).

[0209] All collateral may be categorized in a grid system. Based on the category, the system provides two primary ratings before a commercial is selected: 1) quality of the collateral based on previous response and sales results; 2) cohesion with market targeting system (mts) based on the collateral category.

[0210] In a calendar format, the system provides an interface for dealers to access the marketing suite. On a daily basis, this calendar enables the dealer to view media availability, historical sales activity, current marketing activities, proposed marketing, budget, analysis, and plan marketing campaigns.

[0211] Based on the digital traffic log (DTL) in the sales suite, this system provides the media analysis calendar with the percentage of previous traffic and sales activity on a daily basis for a given month (automatically matches weekends and holidays) based on previous activities (dealer sets the history length) as a percentage.

[0212] An array of factors such as current inventory, external and internal market and sales data, sales objectives, marketing area, and budget are integrated to define the different targets and best media and/or media mix to reach the targets, including prefabricated niche and aggregation messages.

[0213] A budget allocation system disseminates the predicated sales activity each day for a given month. For example, it may be shows in daily units and as a percentage of the month. It also proposes the daily allocation of the advertising budget by day, area, and consumer targets to support the predicated sales.

[0214] Marketing Media Integration Sub-system

[0215] Marketing Media Integration Sub-system (MMIS) 128 deals specifically with media. The exchanges, the template database, talent selection, application of customization to collateral and then trafficking are all part of this system. System 20 includes standardized templates for print, billboard, web, and audio, which dealers can use. Thus, each dealer does not have to get a print ad developed privately (which they purchase) but select from the various available templates. Creative firms can also create templates for sale in this environment. Their templates are prefabricated, electronic, and print ads created for dealers with specific art production, background music, and talent. Creative firms are also provided access to vehicle retail prices as well as indirect lending rates. They can create prefabricated advertisements with a price and/or payment on new or used models, e.g. commercial with interchangeable models, prices, and/or payments.

[0216] Each of the templates will have a value attached to it showing how effective the template may be. Dealers can break the template by demographic, so you see how successful it may be with each group of people. While dealers already have access to high quality pictures and video of the vehicles produced by the carmaker, the carmaker can create multiple commercials that focus on specific models and/or promotions in a format that enables digital integration of specific dealer collateral.

[0217] Dealer specific collateral such as dealership footage and/or logo with prefabricated commercial production may be available for creative firms to provide dealer specific multimedia collateral. Once developed, the collateral may be available forever.

[0218] The dealer can select specific talent for digital video and/or voice recording of the dealership name, address, website, etc. The dealer pays a fee for the service while the collateral can be integrated with multiple prefabricated electronic and/or print advertisements.

The same commercial or talent cannot be used in the same market. The system removes the commercial/talent from a coverage area with no possibility of overlap once the commercial has been selected.

[0219] To ensure smooth cohesion of the dealer collateral with production, a Collateral

Measurement Code measures the collateral (time to annunciate) and hides production that does not match. Example of the code: (dealer name)<time>[message]<time>(dealership)<time>[message]<time>(phone number)(website). This can be used when using audio clips and splicing them together to put a radio spot together.

[0220] Collateral can be exchanged in several ways based on the cost to use (amount of time and/or uses with a pre and post time buffer) or cost to own within a coverage area forever: 1) Talent only, 2) Commercial only, and 3) Talent and commercial combination.

MMIS 128 allows negotiation for that collateral.

[0221] For creating classified ads, the system also lets the dealer use the inventory suite and prefabricated messages for specific models to assist the dealer in creating classified ads.

The dealer simply selects a vehicle from the inventory list to create the ad and transfer to the newspaper. The ad may be automatically removed once the vehicle may be sold.

[0222] MMIS 128 also integrates media such as newspapers, radio, television, cable, direct mail, and outdoor with the marketing suite. Thus, media can streamline available space to the

$8 billion dealer advertising market with digital transferring of copy, thereby increasing efficiency for the media and dealer. MMIS 128 also provides an interface that provides media availability, packages, placement, and prices for electronic and print media. As such, the dealer can view availability and cost for any specific day or an entire campaign.

[0223] A list of print media within the dealer's ADI may be made available and a graphical representation of the media, availability, placement, packages, and cost may be provided. As such, the dealer can easily order the media, confirm, and transfer the advertisement (copy) directly to the newspaper with just a few clicks.

[0224] A list of radio stations within the dealer's ADI may be also provided and a daily calendar of available traffic, audience data, packages, and costs may be made available. The dealer can transfer prefabricated commercials to the station that can alternate between the morning and afternoon drive times.

[0225] A graphical map of outdoor media within the dealer's ADI that provides the amount of traffic or net circulation (total amount of persons seeing the outdoor media) for each specific medium such as billboards, stadium signs, public transit, etc. to measure the potential worth of the medium may be provided. In this map, leased space may be colored red and available space may be green. By selecting red, the dealer can review the current lease expiration or rotation and bid on the future lease or rotation. If the space may be green, the dealer can accept or bid on the lease rate and transfer the digital collateral.

[0226] To assist the dealer in evaluating the cost effectiveness of the marketing plan or proposed media, the system will multiply the card rate (the asking price of media) and/or negotiated price of media by 1,000 divided by the reach for any specific media on any day or for an entire marketing campaign.

[0227] The interface allows the dealer to use a sliding scale. Based on the budget (dollars), historical sales information (when) and Market Targeting (media mix,) the sliding scale interface (SSI) may be a sliding bar that enables the dealer to adjust 1) media mix between print and electronic, and 2) the media quality between availability and frequency. As SSI adjusts, the group rating points (GRP), target rating points (TRP), and graphical production member (GPM) changes are shown.

[0228] On a percentage basis, MMIS 128 also automatically measures the precise amount of carmaker brand advertising within the dealer's media plan based on the CMC (collateral measurement code) and deducts the dollar amount subsidized by the carmaker from above and below the line media costs.

[0229] Once a dealer has selected the media collateral, a medium, and a schedule, the dealer can view and accept the card rate or make an offer. If a dealer makes an offer or sets a period of time for bidding in the Direct Mail Distribution (DMD) System, the dealer may be required to fulfill the order or accept the lowest DMD bid.

[0230] For all services and mediums in the marketing suite, the clearinghouse collects and distributes all payments. Electronic Payment System (EPS) may be a digital interface that provides invoicing and account balances. EPS also enables a dealer to select an ad agency (member) to manage the dealer's marketing suite. [0231] Automated Direct Mail Management Sub-system

[0232] Similar to outdoor collateral, the Direct Mail Media (DMM) component of Automated Direct Mail Management (ADMM) Sub-system 130 provides an interface that enables the dealer to select specific direct mail collateral in a graphic format by promotion type, specific model, targeted audience, or service type. DMM includes specifications such as quality while integrating mailing lists from the dealer's database and from data acquired from the market.

[0233] Once the collateral may be selected, the Direct Mail Distribution component of the ADMM Sub-system 130 sends the collateral, mailing list, and time frame to an interface at numerous mailing houses (members) for bidding. Within a set period of time, the mailing houses may bid for the assignment with increments as low as one tenth of a penny per mail piece. Using this system, the dealer can create direct mail ads from the template database, send them out to direct mailing houses and allows mailing houses to bid for the total amount of ads to be mailed. If the offer may be accepted, the project may be taken off the market. [0234] Referring to Fig. 11, the aforementioned system 20 thus includes various Subsystems (and methods) including, for example, an industry operating system, an integration platform, an entrance platform, a pending platform, an advanced platform, a pricing platform, a tracking platform, a searching engine, a selection engine, a limitation engine, a valuation engine, a depiction engine, an inspection, a transport engine, a servicing engine, a negotiate engine, a surrogate engine, a likelihood engine, a confirming engine, a clearance engine, an capacity platform, a proposal platform, a numbered platform, a delivery platform, a running engine, a visioning engine, an ascending engine, and an electronic engine. The noted platforms and engines are described in detail above, or in copending applications titled "System and Method for Distribution of Wholesale Goods," "System and Method for Tangible Good Valuation," "System and Method for Inventory Control," "System and Method for Facilitating the Sale of a Tangible Good through an Auction Process," and "System and Method for Control, Distribution and Purchase of Wholesale Goods and Related Interactions," the respective disclosures of which, as discussed above, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0235] Generally, the industry operating system (IOS) provides integration, administration, and use of industry systems such as: 1) vehicle identification, 2) vehicle inspection, 3) vehicle valuation, 4) inventory management, 5) inventory automation, 6) vehicle transportation, 7) vehicle marshalling, 8) vehicle reconditioning, 9) physical auctions, 10) electronic wholesale, 11) dealership operations, 12) vehicle retail, 13) dealership ecommerce, 14) vehicle appraisal, 15) consumer finance, 16) product surveys, 17) industry advertising, 18) auto ecommerce, 19) vehicle production, 20) industry support, and 21) industry payments to enable efficient industry interactions.

[0236] The integration platform integrates vehicle inventory, automation, inspection, valuation, transport, recondition, and retail with vehicle wholesale. The entrance platform enables business entities to enter vehicles into the wholesale market by selecting the vehicle in the inventory interface, by scanning/typing the VESf, requesting an inspection, or automated entry based on an array of criteria such as YYM, cost, value, activity, aging, and/or rating. The pending platform tracks retail activity such as test-drive, price negotiation, and indirect finance to automatically place all vehicles within the wholesale market that are being considered by a retail consumer at a dealership into a pending status until entered back into the market by the dealer or the retail contract is cleared and the vehicle is removed. [0237] The advanced platform enables business entities (remarketers) to enter vehicles into the market that are not available until a future date by selecting vehicles in the inventory interface, scanning/typing the VIN, or automated entry based on specific criteria into groups of one or more with a mileage range, condition range, color range, and available date range. The pricing platform enables sellers to set an asking price that the seller must sell the vehicle for and a floor price that may be a minimum the seller will review for negotiation on one or a group of vehicles. The tracking platform enables the seller price set criteria such as vehicle value, rating, and aging to automatically increase/decrease a price (asking/floor) based on market and/or vehicle activity.

[0238] The searching engine enables buyers to search for vehicles in the wholesale market based on criteria such as year, make, model, trim, colors, options, mileage, history, new, used, condition, price, value, margin, ratings, delivery time, repair time, and/or consumer finance criteria with dealer profit. The selection engine depicts the vehicle search results (VSR) in a user interface based on the vehicle search criteria (VSC), enables buyers to sort and refine criteria/results, and enables buyers to select any result and view the vehicle representation detail (VRD). The limitation engine limits VSR based on buyer/seller ability to buy/sell, e.g. a financial payment ability (FPA) between cash/credit, and limits VSR based on franchise wholesale rules (FWR) and vehicle inventory rules (VIR) for new and used vehicles. [0239] The valuation engine provides a market value of vehicles, mileage, conditions, and options in VSC, VSR, and VRD. The depiction engine provides vehicle specifications, features and benefit information with multimedia, stock media of new vehicles, and a picture set of used vehicles in the VRD. The inspection engine provides a time/cost of all cosmetic/mechanical repairs based on buyer criteria and a 3D schematic of vehicle/options with condition indicators, pictures, and cost/time of repair per indicator. The transport engine provides the time/cost of vehicle transport from the seller to the buyer in the VSR/VRD. [0240] The servicing engine provides a time/cost option of vehicle repair before delivery in VRD. The negotiate engine enables buyers to accept the asking price or bid a counter price and enables sellers to accept, reject, or counter any price that meets the floor price and so on until the buyer/seller accept a bid or the last bid dies due to a bid time limit (BTL). The surrogate engine enables buyers to bid on 1 to X vehicles in VSR with multiple sellers using the negotiate engine. The likelihood engine provides the likelihood of success for all prices/bids. The confirming engine deploys inspectors on the available date in to ensure units were represented rightly in the advanced platform, otherwise price adjust or reentry. [0241] The clearance engine clears freight using the freight market and each payment and title via a clearinghouse to enable effective vehicle wholesale. The capacity platform that provides auctioning, marshalling, and service capacity for auto auction request (AAR). The proposal platform lists auctions in the order of most likely success for a specific vehicle based prior transactions versus freight cost. The numbered platform garners the next best lane and run number combination for a vehicle entering the auction. The delivery platform assigns all freight (from seller to auction) in the freight market and delivers the vehicles. The running engine enables buyers to search for vehicles at the auctions based on criteria such as year, make, model, trim, colors, options, miles, history, condition, price, value, margin, ratings, delivery time, repair time, and/or consumer retail criteria with dealer profits. [0242] The visioning engine transmits live auction activity (LAA) of vehicles at an auction to online buyers/sellers (OBS) and attending buyers/sellers (ABS) in ASR. The ascending engine enables OBS and ABS to negotiate price via an ascending price mechanism with various formats such as English auction during LAA. The electronic engine provides all ARD to OBS before LAA and ARD with video of LAA to OBS after LAA. [0243] To summarize, the aforedescribed operation of system 20 is what creates the economic power of the present invention, specifically the integration into the retail dealer's "selling system" so that consumers can decide between the inventory on the dealer's lot and inventory anywhere in the country. Without this integration, while dealers may have the capability to get inventory on a guaranteed basis, it still would be easier and safer to sell vehicles already in inventory. The power of system 20 is thus making it easy for dealers to sell vehicles they don't have in inventory within their existing selling system, and getting a guaranteed, pre-set profit without having to invest in the vehicle and take the risk of trying to sell the vehicle at retail.

[0244] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Patent ClaimsWliat is claimed is:

1. A system for enabling a dealer to provide information regarding inventory and non-inventory tangible goods, said system comprising: a computer system configured to:

(a) provide information regarding an inventory tangible good actionable price;

(b) provide information regarding a non-inventory tangible good actionable price; and

(c) integrate said inventory and non-inventory tangible good information into a retail sales presentation to a consumer to enable the consumer to informatively purchase one of the inventory and non-inventory tangible goods at a corresponding one of said actionable prices.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is further configured to provide information regarding inventory and non-inventory good configuration, condition and delivery time.

3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said inventory and non-inventory tangible good information is guaranteed.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is further configured to provide a retail sales price for inventory and non-inventory tangible goods including a pre-established profit margin of an acquiring retail dealer such that an inventory of all participants of said system is offered by the retail dealer to the consumer during the retail sales presentation.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is further configured to provide a dealer with an ability to modify at least one of the inventory or non- inventory tangible good and options associated with the inventory or non-inventory tangible good during the retail sales presentation.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said computer system is further configured to perform said modification by a pentagon sub-system including a singular or a matrix presentation, said matrix presentation including a greater number of options presentable to the consumer than said singular presentation, said singular and matrix presentations enabling a dealer to modify said options to meet the consumer's at least one of desired price and budget.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said options include at least one of the inventory and non-inventory tangible good configuration and delivery time.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said pentagon sub-system allows a dealer to bid with other dealers on a tangible good during the retail sales presentation to further reduce a price of the tangible good offered during the retail sales presentation or to increase dealer profit margin.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said dealer profit margin, shipping charges, system fees, and reconditioning costs is not disclosed to the consumer.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system is operable via a wireless handset.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said tangible goods are vehicles.

12. A system for enabling inventory of tangible good selling dealers to be sold to a consumer at a remote tangible good purchasing dealer site, said system comprising: a computer system configured to:

(a) determine a predefined profit margin of a tangible good purchasing dealer;

(b) determine at least one of a selling price, transportation cost and reconditioning cost of the tangible good selling dealers; and

(c) provide a total tangible good cost to the consumer at the remote tangible good purchasing dealer site based on said determination of said predefined profit margin and said at least one of a selling price, transportation cost and reconditioning cost.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said total tangible good cost is guaranteed.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said selling price, transportation cost and reconditioning cost is guaranteed.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein said computer system is further configured to provide a value of a consumer tangible good trade-in and integrate the value into said total tangible good cost.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein said system is operable via a wireless handset.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein said inventory includes vehicles.

18. A system for enabling a tangible good selling dealer to select from at least two product variables for negotiating a tangible good sale with a consumer, said system comprising: a computer system configured to:

(a) determine at least one product variable based on a bid placed by the consumer on a tangible good of a dealer other than the tangible good selling dealer.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said computer system is configured to provide an accurate market valuation of a consumer trade-in.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein at least one of a selling dealer profit margin, shipping charges, system fees, and reconditioning costs is not disclosed to the consumer

21. A system according to claim 18, wherein said system is operable via a wireless handset.

22. A system according to claim 18, wherein said tangible good is a vehicle.

23. A method for enabling a dealer to provide information regarding inventory and non-inventory tangible goods, said method comprising:

(a) providing information regarding an inventory tangible good actionable price; (b) providing information regarding a non-inventory tangible good actionable price; and

(c) integrating said inventory and non-inventory tangible good information into a retail sales presentation to a consumer to enable the consumer to informatively purchase one of the inventory and non-inventory tangible goods at a corresponding one of said actionable prices.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said method further includes providing information regarding inventory and non-inventory good configuration, condition and delivery time.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein said inventory and non-inventory tangible good information is guaranteed.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein said method further includes providing a retail sales price for inventory and non-inventory tangible goods including a pre- established profit margin of an acquiring retail dealer such that an inventory of all participants of a system for implementing said method is offered by the retail dealer to the consumer during the retail sales presentation.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein said method further includes providing a dealer with an ability to modify at least one of the inventory or non-inventory tangible good and options associated with the inventory or non-inventory tangible good during the retail sales presentation.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein said method further includes performing said modification by a pentagon sub-system including a singular or a matrix presentation, said matrix presentation including a greater number of options presentable to the consumer than said singular presentation, said singular and matrix presentations enabling a dealer to modify said options to meet the consumer's at least one of desired price and budget.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein said options include at least one of the inventory and non-inventory tangible good configuration and delivery time.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein said pentagon sub-system allows a dealer to bid with other dealers on a tangible good during the retail sales presentation to further reduce a price of the tangible good offered during the retail sales presentation or to increase dealer profit margin.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein at least one of said dealer profit margin, shipping charges, system fees, and reconditioning costs is not disclosed to the consumer.

32. A method according to claim 23, wherein said method is implemented via a wireless handset.

33. A method according to claim 23, wherein said tangible goods are vehicles.

34. A method for enabling inventory of tangible good selling dealers to be sold to a consumer at a remote tangible good purchasing dealer site, said method comprising:

(a) determining a predefined profit margin of a tangible good purchasing dealer;

(b) determining at least one of a selling price, transportation cost and reconditioning cost of the tangible good selling dealers; and

(c) providing a total tangible good cost to the consumer at the remote tangible good purchasing dealer site based on said determination of said predefined profit margin and said at least one of a selling price, transportation cost and reconditioning cost.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein said total tangible good cost is guaranteed.

36. A method according to claim 34, wherein at least one of said selling price, transportation cost and reconditioning cost is guaranteed.

37. A method according to claim 34, wherein said method further includes providing a value of a consumer tangible good trade-in and integrate the value into said total tangible good cost.

38. A method according to claim 34, wherein said method is implemented via a wireless handset.

39. A method according to claim 34, wherein said inventory includes vehicles.

40. A method for enabling a tangible good selling dealer to select from at least two product variables for negotiating a tangible good sale with a consumer, said method comprising:

(a) determining at least one product variable based on a bid placed by the consumer on a tangible good of a dealer other than the tangible good selling dealer.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein said method further includes providing an accurate market valuation of a consumer trade-in.

42. A method according to claim 40, wherein at least one of a selling dealer profit margin, shipping charges, system fees, and reconditioning costs is not disclosed to the consumer.

43. A method according to claim 40, wherein said method is implemented via a wireless handset.

44. A method according to claim 40, wherein said tangible good is a vehicle.