[Sussex] That paintent the customer loyalty card

[Andrew Guard]

This has never been done before any where in the world.  PS dont say 
Tesco/Harrods to them as they have not been doning this for years.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/14/starbucks_loyalty_card_patent/

But he notes that this week two Starbucks patent applications seek to 
protect the electronic loyalty card. One, application (#20050077350), 
aims to cover a "dual card", a combined credit card and electronic 
loyalty card for Starbucks own stores, for example.

(Same thing they do in Tesco)

A second application (#20050080672) by the same applicants seeks to 
protect the transactional system that exchanges data between the loyalty 
card and the credit card. Traditionally, the credit card cartel takes 
mandatory fees from vendors. With this patent, Starbucks looks to turn 
the tables on this arrangement.

(Same thing they do in Harrods)