A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a slip clutch mechanism, a locking mechanism, and a cylindrical body including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can be configured to rotate about the second portion. The locking mechanism can be configured to engage based on rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion in a first direction, and disengage based on a rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion in a second direction. The slip clutch mechanism can be configured to prevent the locking mechanism from further engaging from rotation in the first direction relative to the second portion based on a magnitude of force applied.

Systems and methods are provided and include a computer terminal located at a flooring store that receives a measured color of a flooring product. A server receives paint product catalog information from a computer system located at a coating manufacturer facility, determines paint colors that coordinate with the flooring product based on the paint product catalog information, and runs a paint product ordering application that interacts with a web browser of the computer terminal. The computer terminal receives a paint product ordering web page from the server that enables a user to create an order for a paint product based on a selected paint color and transmits the order to the server. The server receives the order and communicates the order to the computer system at the coating manufacturer facility. The computer system receives the order for order fulfillment, including creating, packing, and shipping the paint product to the user.

A method for in-store product fulfilment in a retail store having a retail display space and an inventory station in an inventory area where expensive products are stored to avoid theft and bulky products are stored to conserve retail display space. The method involves a step having an electronic request for a product being sent directly from an in-store customer in the retail display space. This electronic request is directed to the inventory station. The method involves a step of having the inventory station send an order confirmation to the in-store customer acknowledging the electronic request, confirming to the in-store customer that the product is available in inventory and directing the customer to proceed to a designated pick up point at the conclusion of their shopping.

A method includes acquiring, on a basis of a restaurant ID, menu information indicating one or more foods provided by a restaurant over a network from a second server associated with the restaurant corresponding to the restaurant ID, transmitting identification information stored in an information terminal to a first server and acquiring classification information from the first server on a basis of the identification information, generating a personalized menu for the user corresponding to the classification information on a basis of the menu information and the classification information, and displaying the personalized menu through a second operation screen for accepting an order of a food to be provided by the restaurant, the second operation screen being displayed on a display of the information terminal carried by the user.

A method acquires, on a basis of a restaurant ID, menu information indicating one or more foods provided by a restaurant over a network from a second server associated with the restaurant corresponding to the restaurant ID, acquires, from a first server, religion information, extracts one or more first foods compatible with the religion information on a basis of the menu information and the religion information, displays the one or more first foods through a second operation screen for accepting an order of a food to be provided by the restaurant of a user, and transmits food order information indicating a food selected from among the one or more first foods to the second server.

An e-commerce service is configured to interface between merchants and vendors so that a merchant can purchase from vendors without having to communicate directly with the vendors. A recommendation service is also provided to provide recommendations to merchants regarding which of multiple available vendors to use for any given product. The recommendation service bases its recommendations on historical order data that has been archived by the e-commerce service, as well as on known or derived merchant properties. The recommendation service may also recommend rates at which an item should be ordered, based on ordering rates of other merchants.

There are provided systems and methods for assembling merchandise ordered by customers. In one form, the system may include: a merchandise order interface for receiving orders placed by customers; a retailer facility with shelving locations corresponding to categories of merchandise items; and a merchandise database containing records of the merchandise categories at the retailer facility and identifying a group of difficult-to-pick merchandise categories, including items stored in locked cases and in non-public areas of the retailer facility. The system may also include a control circuit that: receives merchandise orders, determines merchandise items in the difficult-to-pick merchandise categories, selects a first picker with access to the difficult-to-pick items, instructs the first picker to assemble them, instructs a second picker to assemble merchandise items not within the difficult-to-pick merchandise categories, and instructs the second picker to consolidate the difficult-to-pick items and the items assembled by the second picker.

An online concierge identifies orders to shoppers, allowing shoppers to select orders for fulfillment. The online concierge system may generate batches that include multiple orders, allowing a shopper to select a batch to fulfill multiple orders. As orders are continuously being received, delaying identification of orders to shoppers may allow greater batching of orders. To allow greater opportunities for batching, the online concierge system estimates a benefit for delaying identification of an order by different time intervals and predicts an amount of time to fulfill the order. The online concierge system then delays assigning orders for which there is a threshold benefit for delaying and selects a time interval for delaying identification of the order that does not result in greater than a threshold likelihood of a late fulfillment of the order.

A lease supporting apparatus disclosed in the present specification includes a computer and a database. The computer accepts a selling price for the product that a purchaser intends to purchase. The computer calculates a total lease price using a difference between an acquisition price and the selling price of the product. The computer stores, in the database, the calculated total lease price in association with information of the product (product information). The computer presents, in response to a request from another computer, the product information and the total lease price that are registered in the database.

An automated, dynamic digital financial management tool is described herein. The financial management tool enables a user to access all forms of payments, debt and transactions to be deducted automatically depending on which form of payment is chosen. The financial management tool documents every item/service purchased. The documentation enables a company/manufacturer/store to provide marketing and recall information to the user. The financial management tool is able to include any and/or all financial aspects of a user's life. The financial management tool is able to be implemented using a universal card. The financial management tool is able to include a pay station to receive payments. The financial management tool is able to include automated services.