Method and apparatus for enabling purchasers of products to obtain return information and to initiate product returns via an on-line network connection

• US 20040172260A1
• Filed: 07/07/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc. (Nintendo Company Limited)
• Inventors: Shoecraft, Cassandra B., Junger, Peter J., Koon, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0834 Choice of carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

An electronic registration system facilitates authorized product returns and reduces the incidence of improper returns. A retailer sales associate is prompted to enter individual product identification information such as an individual serial number. This individual product identification information is then stored in a data base along with the date on which the product was sold and an appropriate UPC code, SKU number or manufacturer code. A check digit algorithm may be used to verify the serial number prior to storage. A sales receipt may be imprinted with at least the date of the transaction and the serial number. When a product is returned, the retailer may cross-reference the serial number on the product with that on the receipt to verify the sales receipt. Otherwise, the database may be searched for pertinent sales information. A customer may also access a return authorization engine via the Internet to obtain return approval, an authorization number, return instructions, etc. to reduce retailer hassle.

Claims

1. A method of initiating and authorizing a product return over a global computer network, the method comprising:

(a) enabling input of identity information to identify a product being returned, the identity information including at least one product identifier that is unique to the product being returned;

(b) accessing a central database that stores a plurality of product identifiers and associated return information, and searching the central database for return information based on the at least one input product identifier;

(c) determining whether the product being returned qualifies for return based on the associated return information; and

(d) if the product being returned qualifies for return in step (c), providing a return authorization number and return instructions.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein if the product being returned does not qualify for return in step (c), the method comprising (e) providing general product information.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the general product information comprises at least one of return policies, set-up information, repair information, warranty information, and service locations.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein step (e) is practiced by transmitting the product information via the global computer network and displaying the general product information on a computer monitor.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (d) is practiced by transmitting the return authorization number and return instructions via the global computer network and displaying the return authorization number and return instructions on a computer monitor.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the return instructions comprise at least one of return shipping instructions, how and from where to expect a refund, how and from where to expect an exchange, and an estimated processing time.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising enabling tracking of the product return process.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising, after step (d), providing access to a qualified shipping merchant via the global network.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the product identifier is a product serial number.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identity information further comprises personal information for authorizing the product return.

11. A method of processing a product return via a global computer network, the method comprising:

(a) storing return policies and guidelines for a plurality of products;

(b) accessing the stored return policies and guidelines according to a unique product identifier input by a user via the global network; and

(c) validating legitimate returns that comply with the respective return policies and guidelines according to the input product identifier.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the product identifier is a product serial number.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein step (a) further comprises storing transaction information for the plurality of products.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of the unique product identifier, a purchase date, a purchase amount, a purchase location, and payment information.

15. A computer system for initiating and authorizing a product return, the computer system comprising:

at least one user computer running a computer program that requests information according to at least one input product identifier; and

a system server running a server program, the at least one user computer and the system server being interconnected by a computer network, the system server sending the requested information according to the input product identifier by accessing a central database that stores a plurality of product identifiers and associated return information and by searching the central database for return information based on the at least one input product identifier, wherein the system server determines whether the product being returned qualifies for return based on the associated return information, and wherein if the product being returned qualifies for return, the system server provides a return authorization number and return instructions.

16. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for initiating and authorizing a product return over a global computer network, the computer program comprising:

means for enabling input of identity information to identify a product being returned, the identity information including at least one product identifier that is unique to the product being returned;

means for accessing a central database that stores a plurality of product identifiers and associated return information, and means for searching the central database for return information based on the at least one input product identifier;

means for determining whether the product being returned qualifies for return based on the associated return information; and

means for providing a return authorization number and return instructions if the product being returned qualifies for return.

17. A computer system for processing a product return, the computer system comprising:

at least one user computer running a computer program that requests information according to at least one input product identifier; and

a system server running a server program, the at least one user computer and the system server being interconnected by a computer network, the system server storing return policies and guidelines for a plurality of products and sending the requested information by accessing the stored return policies and guidelines according to the input product identifier, wherein the system server validates legitimate returns that comply with the respective return policies and guidelines according to the input product identifier.

18. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for initiating and authorizing a product return over a global computer network, the computer program comprising:

means for storing return policies and guidelines for a plurality of products;

means for accessing the stored return policies and guidelines according to a unique product identifier input by a user via the global network; and

means for validating legitimate returns that comply with the respective return policies and guidelines according to the input product identifier.