Electronic product registration system with customizable return/warranty programs

• US 20020133425A1
• Filed: 03/19/2002
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc. (Nintendo Company Limited)
• Inventors: Pederson, Jon, Junger, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

An electronic product registration (ER) system which enables a retailer, preferable in cooperation with its vendors, to provide a customized return/warranty program for customers on a product-by product basis. The original policy(ies) in the ER system can be modified for a particular product and the modified policy is stored in the ER system so that the modified policy can be accessed if the product is again presented for a return/warranty transaction.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic product registration system, comprising:

defining an original return policy in the electronic product registration system for serialized products;

checking the electronic product registration system when a serialized product is presented for return to determine if the product qualifies for return under the original return policy;

if the product does not qualify for return under the original return policy;

defining a customized return policy for the serialized product;

handling the return request based on the customized policy; and

storing the customized return policy in the electronic product registration system.

2. The method of claim 1, further including accessing the customized return policy in the ER system if the serialized product is again presented for return.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein defining an original return policy includes defining a plurality of policies for the serialized products.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of policies include vendor and retailer policies.

5. The method of claim 1, further including defining acceptable modifications to the original return policy and enabling the customization of the return policy to be done in accordance with the acceptable modifications.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the acceptable modifications are defined by both the retailer and the vendor.

7. The method of claim 5, further including making the acceptable modifications available to a user through the electronic product registration system.

8. The method of claim 1, further including requiring an authorized person to define the customized return policy in the electronic product registration system.

9. A method of operating an electronic product registration system, comprising:

defining an original warranty policy in the electronic product registration system for serialized products;

checking the electronic product registration system when a serialized product is presented for warranty to determine if the product qualifies for warranty under the original warranty policy;

if the product does not qualify for warranty under the original return policy;

defining a customized warranty policy for the serialized product;

handling the warranty request based on the customized policy; and

storing the customized warranty policy in the electronic product registration system.

10. The method of claim 9, further including accessing the customized warranty policy in the ER system if the serialized product is again presented for warranty.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein defining an original warranty policy includes defining a plurality of policies for the serialized products.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of policies include vendor and retailer policies.

13. The method of claim 9, further including defining acceptable modifications to the original warranty policy and enabling the customization of the warranty policy to be done in accordance with the acceptable modifications.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the acceptable modifications are defined by both the retailer and the vendor.

15. The method of claim 13, further including making the acceptable modifications available to a user through the electronic product registration system.

16. The method of claim 9, further including requiring an authorized person to define the customized warranty policy in the electronic product registration system.