Method and system for processing the local return of remotely purchased products

• US 20010032147A1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRF, LLC
• Original Assignee: Newgistics Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Siegel, Philip S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,036,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for local return of a remotely purchased product. A guidelines-based validation and disposition decision process allows for a collection and disposition decision regarding a remotely purchased product to be made prior to returning the product to a remote retailer via an expensive shipping and handling process. By providing a dispersed method of disposition for returned product through online auction web sites, the returned product may be disposed of for consumers/partners one item at a time and the optimal financial return on the returned products may be captured.

Claims

1. A method for processing local return of products purchased from one or more of a plurality of remote retailers, the method comprising:

gathering transaction information regarding a remotely purchased product from a consumer;

determining eligibility of the product for return based on a set of product return guidelines;

collecting the product, if eligible for return, at a centralized location; and

disposing of the collected product based on the set of product return guidelines.

2. The method of

claim 1

further comprising disposing of the collected product using an auction.

3. The method of

claim 1

further comprising:

providing an Internet auction web site; and

disposing of the collected product through the Internet auction web site.

4. The method of

claim 1

further comprising shipping the collected product from the centralized location to a remote retailer specific location.

5. The method of

claim 1

further comprising:

providing an Internet web site operable to gather the transaction information regarding the remotely purchased product; and

displaying, on the Internet web site, at least one set of product return guidelines.

6. The method of

claim 1

further comprising crediting at least one consumer account with a value associated with the collected product.

7. The method of

claim 1

further comprising logging receipt of the collected product return.

8. The method of

claim 1

further comprising notifying the remote retailer from which the product was purchased of the product return.

9. A method for processing local return of a remotely purchased product by a consumer using a catalog, a world wide computer communications network or other technique for directly selling to the consumer, the method comprising:

gathering information concerning the remotely purchased product from the consumer;

maintaining at least one set of product return guidelines;

determining eligibility of the product for return based on the set of product return guidelines;

collecting the product if determined eligible for return;

determining a preferred method for disposal of a collected product; and

disposing of the collected product according to the preferred method for disposal.

10. The method of

claim 9

further comprising:

providing a web site operable to gather the information concerning the remotely purchased product; and

providing access to at least one set of product return guidelines through the web site.

11. The method of

claim 9

further comprising offering the collected product for sale on an Internet auction web site.

12. The method of

claim 9

further comprising crediting at least one consumer account for the collected product.

13. The method of

claim 9

further comprising:

shipping the collected product to a central location; and

redistributing the collected product from the central location based on the preferred method of disposal.

14. The method of

claim 10

further comprising notifying a remote retailer associated with the remote product purchase of the collected product.

15. A method for enabling local return of remotely purchased products comprising:

providing access to product return guidelines for a plurality of remote retailers;

gathering information regarding a transaction for a remotely purchased product from a consumer;

determining eligibility for returning the product based on the product return guidelines;

collecting products eligible for return at a local return collection site; and

disposing of collected product returns based on the product return guidelines.

16. A system for processing the local return of products purchased from one or more remote retailers, the system comprising:

at least one client system;

at least one server system operably coupled to the client system;

at least one database operably coupled to the server system;

the database including product return guidelines for the one or more remote retailers;

the at least one client system operable to display at least a portion of the product return guidelines; and

the server system operable to gather information regarding a purchase from the one or more remote retailers.

17. The system of

claim 16

further comprising:

the server system operable to provide at least one auction web site; and

the auction web site including at least one entry indicative of a returned product purchased from the one or more remote retailers.

18. The system of

claim 16

further comprising:

at least one remote device operably coupled to the server system; and

the remote device operable to access the at least one database and to display at least a portion of the product return guidelines.

19. The system of

claim 16

further comprising the server system operable to notify at least one remote retailer of an impending product return.

20. The system of

claim 16

further comprising the server system operable to credit at least one consumer account for the return of one or more remotely purchased products.

21. The system of

claim 16

further comprising the server system operable to determine a remotely purchased product'"'"'s eligibility for return based on at least a portion of the product return guidelines.

22. The system of

claim 16

further comprising the server system operable to determine a method of disposal for one or more remotely purchased product returns.