System and method for single-action returns of remotely purchased merchandise

• US 20010047315A1
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Global Logistics LLC
• Original Assignee: Newgistics Incorporated
• Inventors: Siegel, Philip S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A system and method for performing single-action returns of remotely purchased merchandise is provided. The system preferably includes at least one server and at least one client coupled via a network. The server is preferably operable to identify the user of the client system and retrieve a transaction listing for the identified user. The client system preferably displays the transaction listing to the user and allows the user to perform a single action to select transactions and/or merchandise for returns processing. In response to the single action performed, the server system preferably initiates and completes a returns process based upon stored user preferences for such returns. The returns process can include returning merchandise to the retailer from which it was purchased, auctioning the unwanted merchandise, notifying a shipping agent of the return as well as other return procedures.

Claims

1. A method for processing the returns of merchandise purchased through the World Wide Web comprising:

identifying a user;

gathering a transaction history associated with the identified user;

displaying the transaction history associated with the identified user; and

initiating a returns process in response to selection, by the user, of a transaction displayed in the transaction history.

2. The method of

claim 1

further comprising retrieving a preference profile for the identified user.

3. The method of

claim 2

further comprising crediting a user account indicated in the user preference profile based upon the transaction selected.

4. The method of

claim 1

further comprising notifying a retailer associated with the transaction selected by the user.

5. The method of

claim 4

further comprising providing the retailer with the transaction information and user information associated with the transaction selected by the user.

6. The method of

claim 1

further comprising generating a return shipping label for the merchandise to be returned.

7. The method of

claim 1

further comprising notifying a shipping provider of a merchandise return to be picked up.

8. The method of

claim 1

further comprising auctioning the merchandise selected for return by the user.

9. The method of

claim 1

further comprising communicating between a client system and a server system via the Internet.

10. A method for processing the local return of remotely purchased merchandise comprising:

displaying, on a client system, a transaction listing containing transactions associated with a user;

the transaction listing including at least one individual transaction indicative of merchandise purchased by the user from a retailer; and

initiating a returns process in response to selection of at least one individual transaction by the user.

11. The method of

claim 10

further comprising:

identifying the user; and

retrieving transaction information associated with the identified user.

12. The method of

claim 10

further comprising:

transmitting an identifier to a server system; and

retrieving a user preference profile previously stored for the user identified by the identifier.

13. The method of

claim 12

further comprising:

completing the returns process based upon settings in the user preference profile.

14. The method of

claim 10

further comprising:

notifying the retailer of the merchandise to be returned; and

providing transaction information associated with the merchandise return the retailer.

15. The method of

claim 10

further comprising:

notifying a shipping agent of a merchandise return package to be shipped; and

generating a shipping label for the merchandise return package.

16. The method of

claim 12

further comprising issuing a credit to a user account indicated in the user preference profile.

17. A system for processing merchandise returns comprising:

a server communicatively coupled to a network;

the server operable to receive single-action requests from the network;

at least one transaction database communicatively coupled to the server;

at least one customer database communicatively coupled to the server;

a program of instructions executable by the server; and

the program of instructions operable to access a client identifier included in the return request, identify a customer in the customer database based upon the client identifier and create at least one transaction listing from transactions included in the transaction database associated with the identified customer.

18. The system of

claim 17

further comprising:

at least one client communicatively coupled to the network;

at least one display operably coupled to the client;

the display operable to display the transaction listing created by the server; and

the client operable to transmit a single-action return request to the network in response to selection of at least one transaction displayed in the transaction listing.

19. The system of

claim 17

further comprising the program of instructions operable to initiate a returns process in response to selection of at least one transaction from the transaction listing.

20. The system of

claim 19

further comprising the program of instructions operable to retrieve a preference profile for the identified user and complete the returns process based upon settings included in the preference profile.