Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling or allowing a merchant to sell one or more products to different customers at different prices and to adjust the prices of one or more products sold or offered for sale on a customer-by-customer basis. More specifically, the method and apparatus enables or allows a customer to commit or agree to perform a qualifying action in return for receiving a price adjustment for one or more products sold by or available from a merchant. The qualifying action may be part of a subsidy offer provided by the merchant to the customer. In exchange for accepting the subsidy offer or completing the qualifying action, the customer receives the price adjustment.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for presenting forward commitment agreements to consumers proximate to a benefit dispensing device such as a vending machine or an automatic teller machine. A controller is in communication with one or more benefit dispensing devices and one or more merchant devices. Merchants devise forward commitment agreements to be offered to consumers. Such agreements specify a benefit that will be provided to a consumer immediately if the consumer agrees to fulfill a commitment in the future. Using a merchant device, a merchant communicates descriptions of the forward commitment agreements to the controller. When a consumer subsequently accesses a benefit dispensing device, the controller, via the benefit dispensing device, offers a forward commitment agreement to the consumer. If the consumer chooses to enter into the forward commitment agreement, then the benefit dispensing device provides the consumer with an immediate benefit.