WO2002041739A2 - Method of retail sale, trading enterprise, ordering point, sales delivery point and cash department - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of retail sale of goods, trading enterprise, ordering point, sales delivery point, and cash department. A method of retail sale of goods comprises distribution, by the seller, of information about the nomenclature of goods supplied, taking orders from the buyers according to said nomenclature of goods, in at least one ordering point (2) accessible to the buyers, transmission of the ordering information from the ordering point (2) to the packaging center (1), where the orders are made up, receiving the payment for the order, delivery of goods to the buyers. In this case, the orders are taken by the seller remotely from their packaging. The method is implemented in a trading enterprise wherein the order-packaging center is separated from the order-taking point and situated remotely therefrom. The ordering point comprises ordering sections (11), having each the operators side (12) and the client's side (13) separated by a partition (14), and an operator's seat (16) common to all the sections, the sections with the partitions surronding the operator's seat. The cash department may be organized in a similar way. The sales delivery point (3) comprises a motor vehicle (19) with a body and wheel-mounted containers (20), The lateral dimensions of the containers being multiple of the internal dimensions of the body, at least part of the containers being adapted to be joined together.

Description

Method of retail sale, trading enterprise, ordering point, sales delivery point and cash department.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to trading and particularly, to retail sale of food products and other small-scale retailing goods generally, sale in supermarkets, such as household chemical goods, sanitary goods, cosmetics etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditionally, retail sale of foodstuffs is made in trading enterprises such as shops. Sell-service shops, particularly supermarkets, are best adapted for fast, integrated, servicing of customers.

Conventional methods of selling goods through shops, including supermarkets, however, present a number of problems both for the buyers and for the sellers.

In the customer's view, food shopping occupies a substantial time needed for visiting different shops to purchase the necessary set of food products. A supermarket enables one to buy essentially all the day-to-day foodstuffs, but each visit to a supermarket also tapes much time to pass all the shelves in search of the necessary goods. In addition, the supermarkets, for profitability reasons, are only located in densely populated areas and are widely spaced from one another, even in big cities, and therefore, the visit to supermarkets proves to be inconvenient for a large percentage of potential buyers. Further, the seller trying to avoid congestion of nondurables, limits their stock in the shop warehouse and consequently, in most of the shops, towards evening, i.e. just when people who are busy working in the daytime make their purchases, there is a poorer choice of goods on the shelves, than it was earlier in the day.

On the part of the seller, the sale of goods through shops involves considerable expenses, namely: a large body of personnel, purchase and/or lease and maintenance of floorspace for the sales area and the warehouse, purchase and maintenance of the shop equipment in the sales areas and warehouses, high expenses for electric power consumed both by the sales area with its equipment and by the warehouse, and safety measures, including theft- prevention.

Known in the art are methods of selling goods which partially solve the above problems, namely: sales to order, including orders taken over the phone, from catalogs, electronic sales using the worldwide Internet network. The sales delivery is generally made by a motor vehicle, to each individual buyer. Such methods, however, have not been widely practised in some regions for a number of reasons.

The order by catalog is based, in general, on a dispatch by mail, from the buyer to the seller, of a message with information about the goods, which, naturally, causes a certain delay in the execution of the order. The phone order, i.e. made by a voice message, is liable to errors on the part of the operator taking the order, and besides, it takes much time to register the order, particularly with long lists of items, which would often be the case when ordering food products. There are known personal facilities matched with voice communication lines and simplifying the entry of the order over the phone, such as those disclosed in the patent US, A, 4, 654, 482. The purchase of personal facilities, however, involves additional expenses on the part of the customer, and so far they are not accessible to the public at large. Further, in order that teleshopping be used on a large scale, it is necessary for the population to be covered by the telephone service on a 100% basis. For the same reason, electronic sales over the Internet have not won a universal acceptance in many regions, for they require the customer to own a personal computer and to acquire special knowledge and skills to handle the computer.

Besides, personal delivery has certain limitations in terms of the number of clients served.

Known in the art are a system and a method of automated shopping (US, A, 5, 047, 614). According to this method, the seller (the automated shop) provides its customers with scanners or portable terminals allowing the readout of the bar codes of different products. The customer, without leaving his home, makes up an order by storing the bar codes of the desired goods in the memory of the scanner, after reading them, with the aid of the scanner, from a brochure with a list of available products published by the seller, or from the package belonging to the foodstuffs he had earlier bought from the seller. The customer then visits the automated shop and at the ordering point located on the premises, he connects his scanner to the shop's computer. The computer reads the information from the memory of the scanner and sends the list of the products selected to the shop warehouse, where the ordered goods, either automatically or manually, are made up into sets, packaged and transferred to the sales delivery point together with the bill for the total sum to be paid by customer before receiving his set of commodities.

The automated shop and the method of shopping described above solve some of the problems arising in conventional self-service shops. Maintenance costs borne by the seller for the upkeep of the selling area and its equipment are partially reduced, and thefts from the shelves prevented. In such automated shops, however, the procedures of taking the order, the multiple unit packaging and the sales delivery are all combined in the same location, with the buyer present within a single shopping visit), which makes it necessary to have a warehouse within the shop with a sufficient stock of food products, which would involve rather high maintenance costs. The commercial effectiveness of sales in shops, especially in large supermarkets, is known to be achieved, if the shops are located in convenient places for the public to visit, i.e. in districts with a well-developed infrastructure and a convenient transportation network, e.g. near underground stations. The cost of land and the rent in such places are, generally, high enough to constitute a substantial proportion of the seller's expenses. The expenses are still more increased because of the necessity to provide a large stock of goods and its storage, which ultimately raises the selling price for the goods against the producer's price. In an automated shop, where the order is taken and delivered within a single visit of the customer, just like a conventional shop, it is difficult to keep the balance between maintaining the stock of goods during the whole day and eventual congestion of perishable goods in the warehouse. Besides, the payment on delivery may cause additional expenses incurred by the seller, in case the buyer cancels the order.

The above automated shop has a number of drawbacks for the buyer as well. Reception of the order and delivery of goods take place within a single shopping visit, and since the packaging operation occupies a certain time, the buyer has to wait for his order to be completed. The use of a personal scanner to make up the order limits the number of potential buyers due to extra costs borne either by the buyer or by the seller. A possible loss of the scanner may also deprive the buyer of an opportunity to make an order.

Further, both in traditional self-service shops such as supermarkets, and in the aforementioned automated shop, the most time-consuming procedure frequently leading to queues is the operation at the checkout counter which completes the purchase and comprises calculation of the sum total, payment in cash, moving the goods from shopping baskets to the buyers' containers (shopping bags) and monitoring.

Known in the art are automated self-service cash departments designed to speed up the purchasing procedure (US, A, 5,752,582; 6,105,866). The automated self-service cash department generally comprises a conveyer belt transporting the items of goods put out of the basket by the customer, a packing area at the end of the conveyer belt; and, finally, a scanner for reading the bar code (or any other accepted identification code) on the package, a buyer's monitor for presenting information about the item of commodity selected, a cashless monitor, and a means for reception and registration of the payment, with a printer to give out a check or some other payment document identifying the purchase, all of them arranged along the conveyer belt. Also known are automated self-service cash departments where purchases are paid for on a cashier-free basis, through an electronic paying device designed to accept credit cards or similar means of payment, and/or autoteller machines to receive and issue banknotes and coins for payment in cash (US, A, 6,105,866). In this case, although the automated self-service cash departments work without cashiers, there are cashier's seats provided nearby, for the purpose of supervising the customers and assisting them, if necessary. Also, known are automated self- service cash departments designed to make the payment through a cashier.

In order to improve the operating efficiency of the cashiers, the automated self-service cash departments are combined to form a cash center served by a single cashier. Known in the art, for example, is an automated self-service cash center

(US, A, 5,752,582) comprising at least three automated self-service cash sections having each the customers side and the cashier's side, and a common cashier's seat, with all the cash sections arranged about the periphery thereof. In the cash center described, the cashier must observe the actions of the customers, including those at his/her back, the cashier being constantly in close contact with the customers, with the consequent high stresses on the cashier. The cashier determines the priority in serving the clients arbitrarily, based on the visual information, which may result in the clients nonuniformly crowding at different cash sections, further enhancing stresses on the cashiers. The high stresses on the cashier in the above cash center substantially limit the number of sections united in a block, essentially ruling out the possibility of payment through a cashier. In individual cases, a separate cash center is needed to allow the payment through a cashier.

In addition, the arrangement of extensive automated self-service cash sections, including each a conveyer belt for transportation of goods, around the central cashier's seat, as illustrated by Fig. 3 of US Patent, A, 5,752,582, also limits the number of sections to be united. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a trading enterprise and a method of retail sales, as well as ordering and sales delivery points and a cash center such as to make the retail trade convenient for the mass consumer, while cutting the expenses as much as possible, both for the seller and for the buyer. With this object in view, in a method of retail sale of goods, comprising distribution, by the seller, of information about the nomenclature of goods supplied, reception, at least in one ordering point, accessible to the shopping customers, of orders from the customers in accordance with this nomenclature, transmission of the ordering information from the ordering point to the packaging center, and the payment for it, according to the proposed invention, the orders are taken by the seller at a point remote from the packaging point, the payment for the ordered goods being made on taking the order at the ordering point.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the procedures of taking the order and its delivery are substantially separated in time, and the order delivery is made within a specified time interval.

The spatial separation of ordering and packaging points enables the seller to make an economical use of large areas in expensive districts, while providing the taking and delivery of orders to said districts which are convenient for shopping.

The order-taking and delivery points require much less floorspace than order packaging centers or warehouses. In one of the embodiments, the order- taking and delivery is made from a plurality of points situated in different locations within a populated area, thus creating a broad sales network, avoiding at the same time substantial expenditures for the lease and maintenance of large selling areas and warehouses. In an alternative embodiment, there are no stationary ordering and delivery points, for example, when a specially equipped vehicle serves as these points, which completely eliminates the seller's expenses for the lease of the rooms. Home delivery of the order is also possible.

Time separation of the ordering and delivery operations, with a specified time interval for the sales delivery, allows the seller to supply goods directly from the manufacturer to the order packaging center in quantities specified in the order, rather than hold a substantial stock of goods in the shop warehouse. This also cuts the seller's expenses.

The cutdown of expenses achieved by the proposed method makes it possible for the seller to set the sale price at a level closely approximating the manufacturer's sale price.

Besides, the customer need not wait for his/her order to be made up. Instead, he/she can receive it at any convenient time. The payment at order transfers the risk of damages from the seller to the buyer, in case the buyer cancels the order after it had been made up.

According to the preferred embodiment of the method, the ordering point is served by an operator. According to one embodiment, the information about the nomenclature of goods is distributed on a data carrier represented by an order form containing the sections to be filled in by the seller and those to be filled in by the buyer, and constituting the customer's order. It is preferable that the order forms be distributed in high consumer-flow areas, such as underground stations, which, in conjunction with multiple ordering and delivery points situated in different parts of a locality, provides a broad sales network convenient for the buyers. Here no special individual order-packaging facilities, such as individual scanners or personal computers, are required, thus eliminating extra costs on the part of the consumers, to say nothing of the buyers' skill in operating these technical facilities.

The multicomponent order packaging center may incorporate a warehouse, although a warehouse-free embodiment of the invention is also possible, wherein the goods are supplied directly from the manufacturer.

The aim is also attained by providing that in a trading enterprise comprising an order-packaging center, data carriers with a list of the seller's goods, at least one ordering point, equipped with a means for transmission of order information to the order-packaging center, according to the proposed invention, the order packaging center is separated from the ordering point and is remote therefrom.

In a preferred embodiment, the trading enterprise comprises a plurality of ordering points remote from one another and a plurality of points for delivery of goods packaged as specified by the orders. The proposed trading enterprise provides a broad sales network that may be convenient for serving a large number of customers with minimum expenses, both for the seller and for the buyer.

The aim is further achieved by having the ordering point including an order-registration means, according to the proposed invention, comprise at least two order-acceptance sections having each the operator's side and the client's side, and a common operator's seat for all the sections, these sections surrounding the operator's seat.

In the preferred embodiment, the operator's side and the client's side, in each section, are separated by a partition with a window to receive the payments. The partitions are arranged in a closed circuit around the operator's seat.

Each section is provided with a signaling device to notify the operator of the client's wish to make an order, and the operator's seat is made rotatable about its axis, in one direction.

In such embodiment of the ordering point, an efficient service is provided without unnecessary stress on the operator.

The aim is also achieved by providing that, according to the present invention, the sales delivery point comprises a motor vehicle with a body and movable containers, the lateral dimensions of the containers being multiples of the internal dimensions of the body, with at least part of the containers capable of being interconnected to form, preferably, a chain.

Said, container-to-body dimensions ratio allows an economical use of the body. Ability of the containers to interconnect to form a chain makes it possible to install then in a convenient and compact manner, in a working, stationary, position in particular, around the operator's seat, enabling the containers to be equally spaced from the center of the operator's seat and supervised, all of them, by the operator.

Furthermore, in order that the packaged or piece goods, such as boxes and/or packages with items of commodities constituting the order, be conveniently positioned, the containers have compartments and an open lateral side to provide access to the compartments.

The problem is further solved by providing that, in a cash center comprising cash sections having each the cashier's side and the client's side, and a common cashless seat for all the sections, around which the cash sections are arranged, according to the proposed invention, each cash section is provided with a signaling device to inform the cashier about the client's readiness to make the payment. In each of the cash sections, the client's side is separated from the cashier's side by a partition with a window to receive the payment. The partitions are arranged in a closed circuit around the cashier's seat, and the cashier's seat is made rotatable about its axis, in one direction.

The proposed cash center regulates the cashier's efforts to settle accounts with the buyers and so contributes to an increased efficiency of the cashier's work without additional stresses laid on him/her. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The proposed invention will be further illustrated, in more detail, by the following examples of its preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a layout of the trading enterprise; Fig. 2 is an automated operator's seat ;

Fig. 3 is an ordering point;

Fig.4 is a sales delivery point;

Fig. 5 is a brochure with nomenclature of goods. Fig. 6 is a cash department.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The trading enterprise represented in Fig. 1 , is intended, preferably, for a large populated area, such as the city. What is meant, from now on, by the term "trading enterprise" is a company engaged in retailing of goods such as foodstuffs and other goods generally available on the shelves of supermarkets.

The trading enterprise will be also referred to hereinafter as "seller".

The trading enterprise comprises a packaging center 1 , a plurality of ordering points 2, a plurality of sales delivery points 3 for delivery of goods packaged in accordance with the order. In a big city, more than one packaging centers are also possible. The ordering points 2 and the sales delivery points 3 are separated from the packaging center 1 and located remotely therefrom, e.g. in different districts of the city. The ordering points 2 and the sales delivery points

3 are located in places convenient for shopping, e.g. in the vicinity of underground stations or near big factories. The location of individual points 2 and

3 for taking orders and delivery of goods, respectively, may coincide, the points 2 and 3 being located remotely from one another, e.g. in different districts of the city, region etc. The ordering points 2 may be designed as standard lightweight structures such as pavilions. The ordering points 2 and the sales delivery points 3 may also be made mobile, i.e. in the form of specially equipped vehicles. The number and location of the ordering and delivery points designed to take orders and deliver the goods in accordance with the orders taken, as well as the packaging center, depends on the size and special features of the populated areas in which the trading enterprise is situated, and also on the turnover of capital of the trading enterprise.

The packaging point 1 may be advantageously located in those regions where the industrial land value or the rent of space are at a minimum or else in the vicinity of wholesale supply depots.

The trading enterprise comprises carriers 4 (Fig. 3) of information about the nomenclature of goods. According to one of the embodiments, the data carriers are brochures (Fig. 4) with a complete list of commodities supplied by the seller.

The brochure includes numbered lists of items classified by categories of products (such as dairy products, prepared foods of meat, non-alcoholic beverages, etc.) and arranged alphabetically. Within each category (and also in alphabetical order), the goods are listed together with the name of the manufacturer end/or the trademark. An identification code 5, such as the bar code, is indicated opposite each item of goods.

The data carriers may also be order forms (not shown) containing sections filled in by the seller and blank sections to be filled in by the buyer. The data carriers may also contain matched brochures and order forms. In this case, the sections filled in by the seller in the order forms include the numbers of items matched with the brochure, and the corresponding bar codes. Further, each line corresponding to an item of goods includes sections to be filled in by the buyer, such as "quantity of goods", "delivery point", "date of delivery" etc. The buyer is offered the choice between two alternative order forms, one of them containing the total list of numbers of the items included in the brochure, the other being an abridged list covering only day-to-day goods which are in constant demand. The former may be a multipage order form wherein each page covers a section of the brochure relating to a particular kind of commodity.

The data carriers may be also made in a different manner, for example, using punched cards, as disclose in US, A, 4,107,467. According to one of the embodiments of the invention, the ordering point 2 is equipped with at least one automated order-processing operator's position. The operator's task includes registration of the order with an identification code assigned thereto, transmission of information about the order to the packaging center 1 , receiving and recording the payment. There are different known technical facilities allowing implementation of said functions, such as described in the patents: US, A, 5, 047,614 and US, A, 5, 752, 582.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, preferably used when orders are taken from order forms filled in by the buyer manually, the automated operators position includes a scanner 7 (Fig. 2) with a memory for reading out the bar code and/or other information from the order form, for example, SYMBOL LS 1000 SPARK or SYMBOL LS5700, LS9100, a personal computer (PC) 8 with a modem and a port for connection of the scanner 7. The configuration of the PC employed may be as follows: processor, Celeron 600 MHz, memory RAM 64 Mbyte, monitor LC575N, modem 3ComPCI Win Modem V90 56K. The automated operator's position may include an additional monitor 9 facing the customer, for displaying the list of commodities ordered, to be checked and corrected, if necessary, in addition, the automated operators position includes a payment recording means 10, such as the fiscal registrator type Spark 617F, matched with the scanner 7. Other known devices performing similar functions may be alternatively used. Besides, the automated operator's position may include the electronic payment device (not shown) for receiving the payment from the credit card, apart from the use of the autoteller machines (not shown) to receive/pay out banknotes and coins, or the coin machines (not shown) to issue the change. Said devices are known to be used, for example, in automated self- service cash sections (US, A, 5,047,614 and US, A, 5,752 582). Other embodiments of the automated operator's position are also possible. The orders may also be processed by the operator manually. According to the preferred embodiment shown in Fig.3, the ordering point

2 comprises eight sections 11 (Fig. 3a) having each an operators side 12 and a buyer's side 13 separated by a partition 14 (Fig 2b) which screens off the operator and is provided with a window 15 for receiving the money. The partitions 14 are arranged in a closed circuit to form an octagon with an operators position 16 in the center thereof, which is common to and capable of serving all the sections 11. The common operator's position 16 is made rotatable about its axis. According to one embodiment, the operators position 16 can turn only in one direction, for example, clockwise. Each section 11 on the buyer's side comprise the buyer's monitor 8, the nomenclature brochure 4 with bar codes, the scanner 7 with a memory for reading the bar code or other desired information. In addition at least part of the sections, on the client's side, may comprise electronic paying devices, autoteller machines for receiving/paying out banknotes and coins, and change-issuing machines (not shown), and also other servicing devices. Each section 11 on the operator's side is generally designed similarly to the above embodiment of the automated operator's position of Fig. 2 and comprises a computer 8 (Fig. 3a) with a modem and a port for connection of the scanner 7, and the payment-recording means 10, such as the fiscal registrator, which is also matched with the scanner 7. Besides, the ordering point 2 comprises a signaling device to notify the operator of the client's wish to make an order.

The signaling device comprises a button 17 located on the customers side 13 and electrically connected with a light indicator 18 on the operator's side 12. The signaling device may also be designed in a different manner. Further, the customers side may comprise the keyboard (not shown in the drawing) to correct the order and to let the operator know that the customer is ready to complete the order. A computer type PALM may be used for the operator to process the orders.

The computer 8 at the ordering point 2 is connected, say, by a modem, over a telephone line, to the packaging center 1 , where the items of goods are made up into a set, packed and sent to the sales delivery point 3.

According to one of the embodiments of the invention, the packaging center 1 comprises the automated warehouse (not shown) controlled by a computer receiving the ordering information. The packaging center 1 may be designed in a known manner, for example, as disclosed in US, A, 5,975,434. The packaging center 1 may be warehouse-free. Manual packaging of the order is an option.

Fig. 4 shows the mobile sales delivery point 3 comprising a lorry 19 (Figs. 4a and 4b) and containers 20. The lateral overall dimensions of the containers 20 are multiples of the internal dimensions of the body of the lorry 19, so that containers can be fitted into the body of the lorry 19 in a compact way. The container 20 (Fig 4b) is provided with compartments 21 for boxes (packages) with items of goods constituting the order. The container 20 is provided with wheels 22 and has an open lateral side 23 for accessing the compartments 21. The compartments 21 , the boxes or packages (not shown) are provided with identification codes corresponding to the identification codes of the orders. The containers 20 are capable of being interconnected to form a chain. Specifically, as shown in Fig 4c. at the apical points of the open lateral side 23, from where the container 20 is loaded, there are fasteners 24 providing interconnection of the two containers 20. Any known devices such as chains, latches, etc. secured at both ends may be used as fasteners.

In order to put the sales delivery point 3 into operation (i.e. delivery of orders to customers), the containers 20 are rolled off the body of the lorry 19, and by interconnecting adjacent containers to form a chain, they are set at an angle to each other on both sides of the lorry body, around the operator's working area 25, with the sides 23 looking towards the working area 25 (Fig. 4d). A passageway 26 for the delivery of goods is left around the periphery of the interconnected containers 20.

In addition, the sales delivery point 3 may include the refrigerating plant provided with compartments (not shown) for frozen food products. The delivery point 3 may also be fitted out in a different way to allow an ordered arrangement or the packaged sets. The sales delivery point may be made stationary, in addition, the delivery point may comprise the cash department 27 (Fig. 6) to make the payment for the goods received. The cash department 27 may be organized in essentially the same way as the ordering point shown in Fig. 3a The cash department 27 comprises cash sections 28 having each cashier's side 29 and customer's side 30 and the common cashier's seat 31 surrounded by the cash sections 28. In each section 28, the cashier's sides 29 and the customer's sides 30 are separated by the partition 32 with a window 33 for receiving the payment, which screens off the cashier. The partitions 32 of the sections 28 are arranged in a closed circuit around the cashier's seat 31 which is made rotatable about its axis, preferably in one direction only. Each cash section 28 is provided with a signaling device to inform the cashier about the client's readiness to make the payment. The signaling device comprises a button 34 located on the customer's side 30 and electrically connected to an indicator lamp 35 located on the cashiers side 29. The cash sections 28 may include the known equipment used in automated self-service cash sections (US, A,5,047,614 and US, A, 5,752,582), including a payment registration device 36 such as the cash register matched with the scanner (not shown), the cashier's and customer's monitors 37, the electronic payment device, the autoteller machine to issue the change in coin form (not shown).

The modes of operation of the trading enterprise may vary, depending on the fit-out of the enterprise, in particular, on the structure of the ordering and sales delivery points, the type of data carriers with information about the nomenclature of goods etc.

In accordance with one of the embodiments, the trading enterprise operates as follows.

The seller distributes order forms and brochures among the customers, indicating the nomenclature of goods supplied by the seller. The order forms and brochures are received by the points 2 (Fig. 1) and 3 for the acceptance of orders and the delivery of goods constituting the orders, respectively, in addition, special containers for the order forms may be installed at underground stations, near the gates of big factories, in densely populated micro-districts etc. The customer fills in the order form, marking in an agreed way, the items of goods, their quantity, indicates the delivery point 3 where he wishes to receive the order, and the desired delivery date and time. Then the customers hand over the completed order forms to the ordering points 2 and make the payment. The operator registers the order, inputs all the ordering data to the computer, including indication of the delivery point 3 and delivery time, receives the payment for the goods ordered, and gives out an order-identification means, such as a cheque, to the customer.

The operator transmits the ordering information, say, by phone, through a modem, to the packaging center 1, where the commodities ordered are made up into sets, packed and shipped, either manually or automatically. The seller may have an automated warehouse with a certain (e.g. 24-hour) stock of commodities, or else, the orders may be made up by a direct supply of the necessary selection of goods from the manufacturers to the packaging center 1. In case the order comprises a commodity that had not been earlier supplied by the seller, the seller promptly places an appropriate order with the manufacturer or has the commodity supplied from the wholesale warehouse and delivered to the packaging center 1. The payment for such commodity may be made on delivery at a delivery point adapted to receive the payment, being equipped, for example, with a cash department. For prompt execution of the orders, the seller may have his own database for the commodities and their manufacturers or use existing databases, such as those available in the world-wide network, the Internet. The sets of products are classified according to the location of the delivery point 3 supposed to receive the order, and the orders are shipped to the motor vehicle 19 serving the respective delivery point 3. The motor vehicle 19 (Fig.4) transports the orders to a location selected for the delivery points 3, where the orders are given out on presentation of a cheque or some other identification document. The order-taking and delivery are separated in time. For example, the orders taken earlier in the day, before 1 ,00, p.m., may be given out from 5.00 p.m. to 11.00. p. m. The orders taken in the afternoon may be given out on the following day. Other time schedules for the taking and delivery of the orders are possible. Besides, the orders may be delivered at any later time specified by the customer, for instance, on a particular day. Home delivery of the goods is also provided. The ordering and delivery procedure may be carried out from an integrated order-and-delivery point. The buyer may also make an order from an ordering point situated in one district of a settlement and receive the goods at a delivery point in another district.

The most efficient procedure of taking the orders is followed at the automated ordering point 2 represented in Fig. 3. A customer at the ordering point 2 draws up a list of commodities he/she wishes to order by using the scanner 7 to read out the bar codes 5 (Fig. 5) of items from the brochure 4, which codes are stored in the memory of the scanner. In response to the customer's or operator's command, the ordering information is transferred from the scanner 7 to the computer 8. The list of items is then displayed on the customer's monitor 9 and the operator's computer monitor 8, with the total sum indicated. The buyer who wishes to make a payment pushes the signaling button 17, notifying the operator of his/her readiness to pay. The operator, turning clockwise on his/her seat 16, successively serves the sections with their light indicators 18 lit up. To speed up the cash settlement, in particular, to issue the change, the automatic coin machines (not shown) are used. Besides, the payment may be made without the aid of the operator, through an electronic payment device, e.g. by credit cards.

The ordering procedure followed at the point shown in Fig.2 differs from that described above in that most of the operations (scanning the list, transfer of data from the scanner to the computer) are performed by the operator from his/her position.

The operation of the sales delivery point 3 represented in Fig. 4 now follows. At the packaging point 1 , the containers 20 are filled with commodities constituting the orders and loaded into the body of a lorry 19 which carries the load to a specific location. The operator, for example, the driver, rolls the containers 20 down and, connecting adjacent containers together to form a chain, places them on both sides of the lorry body, around the operator's working area 25, with the sides 23, through which the packaged goods are extracted facing the center of the area 25 (Fig..4d), leaving a passageway 26 for delivery of the sales. The lorry 19 remains in this position during the regular working hours of the sales delivery point 3. In an alternative embodiment, the lorry 19 leaves and stays away for the entire wording period of the point 3. The containers 20 are fastened together throughout the periphery of the working area (except the passageway 26). The delivery point 3 may be located indoors.

The aforementioned sales delivery point may also serve as a mobile trading enterprise and as a means for delivery of goods to a stationary trading enterprise. In this case, the containers loaded with goods at the packaging center serve as racks of the trading enterprise during the working hours. The ordering point may also be a mobile, vehicle-mounted, structure.

Claims

1. A method of retail sale of goods comprising distribution, by the seller, of information about the nomenclature of the goods supplied, taking orders from the buyers according to said nomenclature of goods in at least one ordering point (2) accessible to buyers, transmission or the order information from the ordering point (2) to the packaging center (1) where the ordered goods are made up into sets, receiving the payment for the order, and delivery of the orders to the buyers, characterized in that the orders are taken by the seller at a point substantially remote from their packaging.

2. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that the seller receives the payment on taking the orders.

3. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that the taking and delivery of the order are substantially separated in time, and the sales delivery is made within a specified time interval.

4. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that the orders are taken by an operator.

5. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that information about the orders taken is transmitted by the operator to the packaging center (1) by means of electronic communication facilities.

6. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that the taking and delivery of orders are made by the seller at the most frequented places.

7. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that taking the orders and their delivery spatially coincide.

8. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that the taking of orders and their delivery are made by the seller remotely from each other.

9. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that the seller has a plurality or ordering points (2) situated remotely from each other.

10. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that the seller has a plurality of points (3) for delivery of goods constituting the orders, located remotely from each other.

11. A method of Claims 8 to 10 characterized in that as the order is taken, indication is given of the sales delivery point (3) at which the buyer wishes to receive the order.

12. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that the ordering point (2) is made mobile.

13. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that the sales delivery point (3) is made mobile.

14. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that the packaging center (1) includes an automated warehouse.

15. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that information about the nomenclature of goods is distributed on a data carrier (4) represented by an order form comprising sections filled in by the seller and blank sections to be filled in by the buyer, as the order is made up.

16. A method of Claim 15 characterized in that the order forms are distributed in the most frequented places.

17. A method of Claim 1 characterized in that information about the nomenclature of goods is distributed on a data carrier in the form of a brochure (4) with a list of items of commodities and bar codes of the items.

18. A trading enterprise comprising an order-packaging center (1), at least one data carrier (4) with the nomenclature of the seller's goods, at least one point (2) for taking orders from the buyers situated in a place adapted to be visited by the buyers and provided with a means for transmission of the ordering information to the packaging center (1), characterized in that the packaging center is separated from the order-taking point (2) and located in a place substantially remote therefrom.

19. A trading enterprise of Claim 18 characterized in that the ordering point is provided with a means (10) for recording the payment.

20. A trading enterprise of Claim 18 characterized in that the data carrier (4) comprises order forms including sections filled in by the seller and blank sections to be filled in by the buyer, as the order is made up.

21. A trading enterprise of Claim 18 characterized in that the data carrier

(4) is formed by a brochure with a list of items and bar codes of the same.

22. A trading enterprise of Claim 18 characterized in that the ordering point (2) is provided with at least one automated operator's position for processing the orders, comprising means for registration of the order, transmission of information about the order to the packaging center (1), and recording the payment.

23. A trading enterprise of Claim 18 characterized in that it comprises a plurality of ordering points (2) remote from one another.

24. A trading enterprise of Claim 18 characterized in that it comprises at least one sales delivery point (3).

25. A trading enterprise of Claim 24 characterized in that it comprises a plurality of sales delivery points (3) remote from one another.

26. A trading enterprise of Claims 18, 24 characterized in that the ordering points (2) and sales delivery points (3) are situated in the most frequented places.

27. A trading enterprise of Claims 23, 25 characterized in that at least one ordering point and sales delivery point spatially coincide.

28. A trading enterprise of Claim 18 characterized in that at least one ordering point (2) is made mobile.

29. A trading enterprise of Claim 24 characterized in that at least one sales delivery point (3) is made mobile.

30. A trading enterprise of Claim 29 characterized in that the sales delivery point (3) comprises a motor vehicle (19) and containers (20), comprising each compartments (21) for receiving the packaged goods, with fasteners (24) for interconnecting the containers to form a chain.

31. A trading enterprise of Claim 18 characterized in that the order- packaging center (1) comprises an automated warehouse.

32. An ordering point comprising a means for registration of the order characterized in that it comprises at least two order-taking sections (11), having each the operator's side (12) and the client's side (13), and an operator's position (16) common to all of the sections (11), the sections (11) surrounding the operator's seat (16).

33. An ordering point of Claim 32 characterized in that in each section

(11), the client's side (13) and the operator's side (12) are separated by a partition (14).

34. An ordering point of Claim 33 characterized in that the partition (14) has a window (15) for receiving the payment.

35. An ordering point of Claim 33 characterized in that it comprises at least three sections (11), and the partitions (14) are arranged in a closed circuit around the operator's seat (16).

36. An ordering point of Claims 33, 35 characterized in that the operator's seat (16) is made rotatable about its axis.

37. An ordering point of Claim 36 characterized in that the operator's seat (16) is rotatable in one direction only.

38. An ordering point of Claim 33 characterized in that each section (11) is provided with a signaling device for notifying the operator of the client's readiness to make an order.

39. An ordering point of Claim 38 characterized in that the signaling device comprises a button (17) located on the client's side (13) and connected to an indicator lamp (18) located on the operator's side (12).

40. An ordering point of Claim 33 characterized in that each section (11) is provided with a means (10) for recording the payment for the ordered goods.

41. An ordering point of Claim 33 characterized in that on the client's side (13), each section (11) is provided with a monitor (8), data carrier (4) with the nomenclature of the seller's goods, each item being identified by a code, and a scanner (7) for reading the code from the data carrier (4).

42. An ordering point of Claim 41 characterized in that it is provided with a means (10) for recording the payment, which is compatible with the scanner (7).

43. An ordering point of Claim 33 characterized in that on the client's side (13) each section (11) is provided with an electronic payment device.

44. An ordering point of Claim 33 characterized in that each section (11) is provided with a coin machine for issuing the change.

45. A sales delivery point characterized in that it comprises a motor vehicle (19) with a body and containers (20), the lateral dimensions of the containers (20) being multiples of the internal dimensions of the body, with at least part of the containers (20) capable of being interconnected.

46. A delivery point of Claim 45 characterized in that the containers (20) are mounted on wheels (22) and made interconnectible to form a chain.

47. A delivery point or Claim 46 characterized in that, the containers (20) have compartments (21) and an open lateral side (23) to provide an access to the compartments (21).

48. A cash department (27) comprising cash sections (28) having each the cashier's side (29) and the customer's side (30), and a cashier's seat (31) common to all the sections, around which the cash sections are arranged, characterized in that in each section (28), the cashier's side (29) and the customers side (30) are separated by a partition (32).

49. A cash department of Claim 48 characterized in that the partition (32) has a window (33) for receiving the payment.

50. A cash department of Claim 48 characterized in that the partitions (32) are arranged in a closed-circuit around the cashier's seat (31).

51. A cash department of Claim 50 characterized in that each cash section (28) is provided with a signaling device for notifying the cashier of the customer's readiness to make a payment.

52. A cash department of Claim 48 characterized in that the signaling device comprises a button (34) located on the customer's side (30) and electrically connected to an indicator lamp (35) located on the cashiers side (29).

53. A cash department of Claim 48 characterized in that the cashier's seat (31) is made rotatable about its axis.

54. A cash department of Claim 53 characterized in that the cashier's seat

(31) is made rotatable about its axis in one direction only.

55. A cash department of Claim 48 characterized in that each section (28) on the cashier's side (29) is provided with a means (36) for recording the payment.

56. A cash department of Claim 55 characterized in that on the customer's side (30), each section (28) is provided with a scanner connected to the payment recording means (36).

57. A cash department of Claim 48 characterized in that each section (28) is provided with an autoteiler machine for receiving/issuing banknotes and coins.

58. A cash department of Claim 48 characterized in that each section (28), on the customer's side (30), is provided with a monitor (37).

59. A cash department of Claim 48 characterized in that each section (28), on the customer's side (30), is provided with an electronic payment device.

60. A cash department of Claim 48 characterized in that each section (28) ided with a coin machine for issuing the change.