Need help to commercialize a patented business method

[Kevinweng]

My company Vertour is a new concept that empowers anyone to deliver orders to their friends and neighbors. The business method is patented as U.S. Patent No. 7,251,621 – “Method and apparatus for the home delivery of local retail e-commerce orders”.

With gas price hovering at record high, this is one creative idea to ease the pain at the pump and even earn money from your errand. Major retailers including Wal-Mart, BestBuy, Sears etc are offering shop online and pick up in store already, so this might work out. A lot of times I buy online from BestBuy and chose in-store pickup, but I still need to make a trip to the store. This will allow me to post a delivery request and have someone else deliver to me so I would never have to leave my computer! Or if I do make it to the store, I can earn some money by delivering orders to my neighbors on my way back!

I've been trying to find a way to make this concept a reality but have encountered difficulties working with big name retailers. My business needs big name retailers because only them have the infrastructure for in-store pickup service, which is a requirement of this concept. The sticky point is big name retailers like BestBuy do not allow third party pickup. The purchasing credit card need to be presented at the time of pickup.

Without external help, I can't make it work now. I am looking for investment and suggestion to commercialize this concept.

Thank you!

Kevin

[BOG]

NO RETAILER that is of sound mind would agree to this EVER.

Think about it. Would you really want some creepy guy who does not even work for Best Buy, has no contract, is not licensed, is not bonded or insured with Best Buy delivering your stuff?

Do you really expect Best Buy to hand your goods to some unknown kid and send them on a wild goose chase looking for your house hoping they will actually deliver?

The delivery idea is terrible and needs to be scrapped. And I don't see a need for the 3rd party in store pickup. Why would you be buying something for someone else unless it was a a gift?

"Hey Mike, I got you a birthday gift but you need to go pick it up yourself you bastard".

LOL. I don't see it happening.

[NamesCody]

Yeah, BOG is right on this. Its not going to happen, retailers won't trust anybody, yes you could enter a contract that any goods the buyer doesn't get you will have to pay for but then comes the idea, how will retailers know the buyer got the item? phone calls? emails? Yes, that could work sending a confirmation email automatically whenever the retailer scans a barcode that lets everybody know its in transit.

But think about it, People choose to pickup in store because it saves them the shipping cost, so why would they put what they saved right back into your hands? That would be pointless, consumers would just have the item shipped to their house.

Yes you could charge a lower rate, but still bad idea. There actually was a company in my town that was similar to this, but closed down b/c of the gas prices. People would call them wanting things from the store, they would run errands, pick up birthday presents, grocery shop, bring fast food to your house, whatever you needed. But with gas prices so high and them not being able to up their prices and keep business they had to close down. Yes, it was a good idea but it just won't be happening until at least gas prices fall and even then, people aren't going to trust a stranger with an already prepaid item.

Would you trust someone you didnt know to bring you a over $1k computer? highly doubtful.

[Kevinweng]

NO RETAILER that is of sound mind would agree to this EVER.

Think about it. Would you really want some creepy guy who does not even work for Best Buy, has no contract, is not licensed, is not bonded or insured with Best Buy delivering your stuff?

All these concerns are true for eBay in the beginning, yet eBay thrives. I won't counter much of the points here because you can see how eBay solves them.

[Kevinweng]

Yeah, BOG is right on this. Its not going to happen, retailers won't trust anybody, yes you could enter a contract that any goods the buyer doesn't get you will have to pay for but then comes the idea, how will retailers know the buyer got the item? phone calls? emails? Yes, that could work sending a confirmation email automatically whenever the retailer scans a barcode that lets everybody know its in transit.

I agreed this is a barrier, but sooner or later it can be worked out. You can check out Licketyship.com. They recently partners with a few businesses.

But think about it, People choose to pickup in store because it saves them the shipping cost, so why would they put what they saved right back into your hands?

Because it costs to drive to the store. You already mentioned gas price is a factor. it also takes time run the errand, so why not spend a minimal fee to get it? Also traditional delivery service won't cut it because you have to spend $30 to get it the 2nd day.

Would you trust someone you didnt know to bring you a over $1k computer? highly doubtful.

I agree this does not work for high price item. That is ok because how often you buy something over $1k? Would you buy it from eBay? eBay does not need to sell everything you buy to be successful.