JPS61271569A - Bonus supply device for customer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To express thanks to customers and to acquire the new fixed customers by providing a magnetic card and its processor to supply the bonus of a fixed rate to a customer who paid a large amount of money against to the total paid amount. CONSTITUTION:A magnetic card which can record the data on the total paid amount and the starting date of a bonus supply period and display the total paid amount is given to each customer. While a card processor (shown in the diagram) is provided at the store side to add the total amount read 4a out of the card with the amount paid this time,to record the result of this addition to the card, to decide the propriety for the bonus supply standard based on the starting date of a period for bonus supply and the total paid amount and to calculate 7 the amount of bonus to the customer respectively. Thus the total paid amount is recorded 4b and displayed 8 on the card for each purchase of the customer. Then the user presents the card when his/her total paid amount exceeds a prescribed level for a fixed period of time and receives the bonus of a fixed rate.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical field to which the invention pertains This invention provides a system in which, when the customer's cumulative purchase amount over a certain period of time reaches a certain amount or more, a store provides that customer with a certain percentage of bonus salary. This invention relates to a system for paying bonuses to customers.

Prior Art and Its Disadvantages In general, store customers can be classified into regular customers who visit the store frequently and customers who rarely visit the store. Since the number of regular customers is directly related to the stable management of a store, all stores are struggling in various ways to stabilize floating customers or increase the number of regular customers.

In the past, stores would offer free gifts to customers who repeatedly made large purchases to express their gratitude for their continued patronage. By establishing a favorable mental bond, such as continuing to work with customers, customers were naturally acquired and established.

However, recent i1@ stores such as Super Matsukerat have introduced automatic sales aggregation and order processing equipment, typically POS systems (point-of-sale systems), which have made the amount of purchases by each customer completely irrelevant. We offer uniform pricing to all customers. In other words, no matter how much one customer's purchase amount over a certain period of time is greater than that of another customer, no benefits are given to the former customer, and the idea is to value the natural human emotions of the customer. There is no longer any room for intervening. In this way, customers are floating because there is no longer any point in sticking to one store, and stores are facing the threat of business stability due to the loss of customers.A rational method for attracting, acquiring, and retaining customers has emerged. This is why it has been eagerly awaited once again.

Purpose of the Invention In view of the above points, the present invention aims to show appreciation, acquire new customers, and increase retention by giving a bonus (money or product) of a certain percentage of the cumulative purchase amount to customers who purchase a large amount of money. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a bonus payment device for customers that can provide bonuses to customers.

Means for Achieving the Objective In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides each customer with a card that can record at least the cumulative amount of purchases and the start date of the bonus pay period, and display the cumulative amount of purchases.
The store adds the cumulative amount read from the card and the current purchase amount, records the addition result on the card, determines whether the bonus salary standard is met or not based on the period start date and the cumulative purchase amount, and the bonus salary amount for customers who meet the criteria. Equipped with a card processing machine that performs calculations, etc., each time a customer makes a purchase, the cumulative purchase amount is recorded and displayed on the card, and if the cumulative amount exceeds a predetermined amount within a certain period of time. This allows the customer to receive a bonus salary by presenting the card at the store.

Examples of this invention Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[Card] C in Fig. 1 shows an example of a card used to carry out this invention.
As shown in , at least the cumulative purchase amount and the start date of the bonus pay period (hereinafter referred to as "period start date"), and preferably customer identification information such as a card issue number for each customer (hereinafter referred to as ID code). a first recording surface rl that magnetically records the added amount; and a second recording surface r2 that magnetically records at least the cumulative purchase amount in the form of a number.
In addition, on the surface of the card, as shown in FIG. A display section d for display is provided.

The display part d is formed by moving magnetic particles or magnetic particle dispersion into a space formed in the card substrate so as to open only on the front side, and sealing the space with a transparent film. 2. When information is recorded in a human-readable form such as letters, symbols, or numbers on the recording surface, the magnetic particles are attracted or reversed by the action of the magnetic force, making the recorded contents visible.

[Card Processing Machine] The above-mentioned card is submitted to the clerk when the customer pays for shopping, and the clerk inserts the card into the card insertion section 1 of the card processing machine CP according to the present invention, and the card is processed as required. Card processing machines can be divided into 3M types depending on their form of existence. The first is a stand-alone type that is independent from a cash register (cash register@), and the second is an electronic register (hereinafter referred to as EC).
The third type is the connected type, which is electrically coupled with the ECR (referred to as R), and the third type is the built-in type, which is incorporated into the ECR. The basic structure and operation of the stand-alone type illustrated in FIG. 1 will be explained based on FIGS. 3 to 5, and then the characteristic parts of other types will be explained.

(1) A detector 1a is provided in the stand-alone card insertion slot 1 and constantly monitors whether or not a card is inserted when the card processing machine CP is powered on. When the insertion of card C is detected, the detection signal S
1, the control unit 2 starts executing the program stored in the first storage unit 3a, and reads data dl (ID code, period start date Ds) from the first recording surface rl of the card C via the reader unit 4a. and the cumulative purchase amount Aa),
These are stored in a predetermined area of the second storage section 3b.

Next, the control unit 2 reads calendar data d2 representing the current date (Dn) from the calendar output unit 5, and stores it in a predetermined area of the second storage unit 3b. This completes the automatic input of a portion of the necessary data, and in this state waits for manual input from the input unit 6.

The staff member will calculate the current purchase amount Ab, which is written on the receipt, etc., obtained from the ECR display section when paying for the customer's purchased products using the existing register or ECR.
Enter by operating the numeric keypad 6a of the input section 6. If the numeric keypad is operated incorrectly, the user can press the cancel key 6b to reset the data using the signal S2, and then input the data correctly again. After inputting the purchase amount using the numeric keypad, when the input end key 6C is pressed to give a signal S3 to the control section 2, data d3 of the current purchase amount Ab is stored in a predetermined area of the second storage section 3b.

Furthermore, upon input of the signal S3, the control section determines that the input has ended, and causes the arithmetic section 7 to perform the following arithmetic processing. That is, as the first process, the calculation formula % formula % However, Aa is the cumulative purchase amount up to the previous time.

Ab is the current purchase amount.

The cumulative new purchase amount Ac is calculated and stored in the second storage unit 3.
It is stored in a predetermined area of b.

Next, as the second process, the calculation formula %formula% However, Dn is the actual word, Ds is the period start date.

The number of days elapsed from the start date of the period starting from the date of issue of the inserted card to the current shopping mortar is calculated, and the calculation result PP is stored in a predetermined area of the second storage section 3b.

Then, as a third process, the new cumulative purchase amount Ac and the predetermined amount Ad, which is one element of the bonus salary standard stored in the first storage unit 3a, are compared in size, and the bonus standard compliance/nonconformity for the purchase amount is determined. Determine. AC≧Ad, Ac<
Ad In the case of either judgment result, the calculation unit performs a fourth process by comparing the Dn-Ds calculation result Pp with the bonus pay period Pd, which is another element of the bonus pay standard, and determines the card. It is determined whether or not a bonus pay period Pd determined by the store's management policy, such as 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year, has elapsed since the issue date.

If the cumulative purchase amount Ac is greater than or equal to the bonus salary standard amount Ad and the number of elapsed days PP does not exceed the bonus salary target period Pd, the card is determined to be compliant with the bonus salary standard and is stored in the second storage unit 3b. The stored data is read out and sent to the writer part 4b via the first output control circuit 2C.
Accordingly, the ID code, period start date Ds, and cumulative new purchase amount Ac are recorded on the first recording surface r1 of the card C, and
A mark (hereinafter referred to as a bonus mark) such as a new cumulative purchase amount Ac and a mark representing compliance with bonus salary standards (hereinafter referred to as a bonus mark) is magnetically recorded on the second recording surface r2, and processing for that card is completed. The staff member takes out the card and returns it to the customer.

Therefore, since the customer sees the bonus mark on the display part of the returned card, the customer knows that he/she can receive money or products as a bonus from the store in an amount equal to a predetermined percentage of the cumulative purchase amount displayed. .

On the other hand, the cumulative purchase amount Ac is the bonus salary standard mA
d or more, but the number of elapsed days PP exceeds the bonus salary applicable period Pd, and the cumulative purchase amount Ac is less than the bonus salary standard amount Ac1, and the number of elapsed days Pp exceeds the bonus salary applicable period Pd If so, this card is determined to be nonconforming to the bonus salary standards, and the ID code read from the second storage unit 3b is written on the first recording surface r1 of the car FC.
The current purchase amount Ab and the actual date Dn of the calendar are recorded on the second recording surface r2, respectively. That is, based on the elapse of the period, the current purchase amount is recorded as the new cumulative purchase amount, and the actual date is recorded as the period start date, respectively. Therefore, a new bonus pay period is set for each customer starting from the current shopping date in the future, and the purchase amount during that period is cumulatively recorded.

Furthermore, customers who meet the above bonus salary criteria can present their card to the store staff and receive a predetermined percentage of the cumulative purchase amount displayed on display section d, for example, a 6-month bonus salary period. If the total amount is 50,000 yen or more and less than 100,000 yen, you can receive a 3% bonus, and if the total amount is 100,000 yen or more, you can receive a 5% bonus in cash or products.

When the clerk pays a bonus, the clerk inserts the card into this card processing machine and presses the erase button 6d, and among the data read from the card and stored in the storage unit, the period start date Ds and the cumulative purchase amount Ac is deleted from the storage section, and only the ID code and calendar data Dn input and stored from the calendar output section 5 are rerecorded on the card. Therefore, only the ID code and the new period start date are recorded on the card of the customer who received the bonus, and the purchase amount is not displayed on the display section d of the card until the next time the customer makes a purchase.

In addition, a display section 8 is provided so that the staff operating the card processing machine can visually check the processing details, and as shown in Fig. 5, when inputting the purchase amount, the cumulative amount read from the card and the current purchase amount are displayed. ((a) in the same figure), and input end key 60
When you press , the period start date D read from that card
Calculate the deadline (term expiration date) based on s, calculate the deadline and the cumulative purchase amount (see figure (b)), and further calculate the bonus salary based on the same amount as the cumulative purchase amount when the bonus salary standards are met. ((c) in the same figure) can be displayed respectively.

Also, if the card does not visibly display the start date or deadline for one period, you may be able to meet the bonus salary criteria by adding the purchase amount to the current cumulative purchase amount by making a few more purchases, but the deadline will not be displayed. I treated him without knowing that he was approaching me,
You may lose your chance to receive a bonus. In order to prevent the customer from having such a disappointing experience, the customer is asked to determine whether the difference between the number of elapsed days Pp and Pd is below a predetermined value, and when the difference is below a predetermined value, the card's expiration date is set. It is preferable to add a function to the control section 2 to display the date on the display section d of the card.

It is expected that this will show kindness to customers and will also have the effect of increasing the number of purchases for the store.

Note that it is necessary to issue a card to a customer who is shopping for the first time at a store that has introduced the bonus pay system according to the present invention. The staff will ask the customer if this is their first time shopping at the store, and for new customers, they will be asked to fill out necessary information such as the customer's address, name, family structure, etc. on a designated form. A new card can be issued using this card processing machine in the following manner.

That is, the card processing machine is equipped with an issued number counter 9, which stores and displays the next number of cards issued in the previous edition. Enter the number in the column and reserve it for later verification.

Then, when a new card is inserted into the card insertion slot 1 and the issue button 6e is pressed, the card issuing routine of the program is executed, and the contents of the issue number counter 9 are stored as an ID code in the second storage unit 3b, and from then on , the routine proceeds to the third step P3 when a card is inserted, and by pressing the input end button 6c after inputting the purchase amount from the input section 6, the data Dn from the calendar output section 5 is input.
and purchase amount data Ab are stored in the second storage section 3b, the process jumps to step PIG and the I
The D code, period start Elpn, and current purchase amount Ab are recorded and given to the new customer. When a new card is issued, the issued number counter 8 is incremented based on the recording end detection signal or the card return detection signal.

(2) Connected type In the stand-alone type mentioned above, card processing is started by inputting the necessary data of the total purchase amount displayed on another register or printed on the receipt through separate operation of the input section 6 by the clerk. On the other hand, the connected type connects the input section 6 of the card processing machine to the ECR's purchase total output circuit by wire or wirelessly, and inputs the price of each product to the ECR or the product code of the POS terminal. By outputting the total purchase amount (purchase amount) when the total command key is pressed following input, manual input using the numeric keypad 6a in the fourth and fifth steps in FIG. 4 of the stand-alone type and the input end key This allows automatic input in place of pressing 6b. To issue a new card, as in the above embodiment, after pressing the issue button 6e and inserting a new card,
All you have to do is perform the accounting process using the register and press the total command key.

In this connected type, the card processing machine according to the present invention is combined with the card processing machine according to the present invention by simply providing an output terminal for outputting the total amount signal to the outside in the total amount output circuit of the existing register. can be used to realize a bonus pay system.

However, it may be inconvenient to start card processing when the total command key is pressed, that is, before payment is received from the customer. In order to prevent this, it is possible to make some improvements so that the total amount output circuit of the register outputs a purchase amount signal to the card processing machine based on the completion of the input amount input operation after receiving the payment from the customer. desired.

(3) Built-in type In the above two embodiments, basic changes are made to the external shape and internal configuration of the register. However, this built-in type is
The appearance of a conventional ECR includes a card insertion slot 1, an erase key 6d, an issue button 6e, and a display section 5a, as illustrated in FIG.

8.9a is provided, and a card detector 1a, a card reader section and a rough reader part 4a are provided in the ECR.

4b, card processing unit such as issuing counter for monetary registration,
It has a built-in register unit necessary for creating and issuing receipts.

With this configuration, the register section allows customers who bring their purchases to enter each product price or product code, output the total amount, and insert a card (if the customer does not have a card). At this time, ask them to fill out a form and insert a new card after pressing the issue button.) After receiving the payment and entering the deposit amount, a purchase amount (total amount) signal will be sent based on the completion of inputting the deposit amount. is output to the card processing section, and card processing similar to that described with reference to FIG. 4 is performed.

When determining the bonus salary/period Pd, it is necessary to take the lifespan of the card into consideration. If the bonus pay period is equal to the card's lifespan (for example, one year), if it is determined that the number of elapsed days Pp has exceeded Pd, a symbol to that effect will be displayed on the display part d of the card or the display part 8 of the card processing machine. It is preferable to display a message to remind the customer that they should update their card.

In addition, if the period covered by the bonus payment does not match the lifespan of the card, print the expiration date on the front of the card or record the issue date data on the card at all times, so that when the card is inserted into the card processing machine, the card is issued. It is possible to determine whether the expiration date has arrived based on the date and calendar data, and to display a message to that effect when the expiration date has arrived.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, each time a customer shops, the purchase amount is cumulatively recorded on the card that the customer carries, and when the cumulative amount in a certain period exceeds a predetermined amount, the cumulative amount is recorded. Since a certain percentage of the amount is displayed on the card as the bonus pay amount, the store can pay the same amount of money or products as a bonus based on the customer's card presentation. Therefore,
Stores can express their gratitude to large purchasers, and
It is clear that customers will go to a store that has introduced such a bonus salary system rather than a store that has not, so we hope to acquire and retain new customers. can do.

In addition, if the expiration date of the bonus pay period is displayed on the card, customers who are close to the bonus pay standard amount can increase their shopping amount within the period based on their judgment and receive the bonus, and the customer will be able to return to the store. This has the advantage of preventing people from feeling unkind.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a card processing machine that is one of the components of this invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a visible magnetic card used for implementing this invention, and FIG. 3 is card place 8! Block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the machine, No. 4
The figure is a flowchart explaining the operation of the card processing machine.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the display contents of the display section of the card processing machine. C... Card, rl... First recording surface, r2... Second recording surface, CP... Card processing machine, 1... Card insertion slot, 6a to 6e... Input section, 5a , 8, 9a... display section. Patent applicant: Nippon Signal Co., Ltd. Figure 4 ba Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (a) A first recording surface that is issued to each customer and magnetically records data including at least the cumulative purchase amount and the period start date; A visible magnetic card (hereinafter referred to as
(simply referred to as a card), and (b) a reader section that reads data from the first and second recording surfaces of the inserted card, an input section that inputs the customer's new purchase amount, and a program, bonus salary standards, and a storage unit that stores the salary rate and data input from the input unit; a calendar output unit that outputs a signal of the actual date; and addition of the cumulative purchase amount read from the card and the new purchase amount input from the input unit; Calculates the number of days that have passed from the period start date read from the card to the actual date, determines whether the card meets or fails the bonus salary standards based on the addition results and the number of days that have passed, and outputs the addition results and determination results, respectively. A card processing machine comprising: an arithmetic unit that performs the above-mentioned addition and a determination result at the time of determining compliance with bonus salary standards, respectively, on at least a second recording surface of the card.