RETURN COUPON HOLDER

• US 20080065485A1
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Retail Equation, Inc. (Bamboo Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Return Exchange, Inc. (Bamboo Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Justus, Dave, Hilinski, Mark, Bradshaw, Peter, Ibert, Jim, Speights, David, Hammond, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

A return coupon holder is described for holding a return coupon issued in a store in conjunction with a customer'"'"'s merchandise return transaction. The return coupon holder is preferably sized large enough to discourage the customer from stowing the coupon away, such as in a handbag. Additionally, holders may be of different types that visually or electronically convey information about a category associated with the customer'"'"'s return transaction. Thus, salespersons may accordingly provide appropriate customer service to the customer. The holder categories may indicate an approximate dollar value of the return transaction, a type of merchandise returned, a return payment method, an assessment of the profitability of the customer, an assessment of the risk of fraud associated with the return transaction, and the like. A computer decision system may select holder type. Some embodiments of the coupon holder are fitted with a device that allow tracing of the customer'"'"'s movements while still in the store.

Claims

1. A computerized system for providing a return coupon and a return coupon holder to a customer making a merchandise return at a merchant'"'"'s store, the system comprising:

a plurality of return coupon holders, each return coupon holder configured to hold a return coupon associated with a merchandise return transaction made by a customer at a merchant'"'"'s store, wherein the combination of the return coupon holder and the return coupon provide information about the merchandise return;

a processor configured to receive information about the merchandise return, wherein the merchandise return comprises one or more items that the customer desires to return to the merchant;

a database comprising return history data wherein the return history data comprises information about prior merchandise returns; and

a return coupon holder decision engine, in communication with the processor and with the database, wherein the return coupon decision engine is configured to receive the information about the merchandise return by the customer and the return history data, the return coupon holder decision engine further configured to select, from the plurality of return coupon holders, the return coupon holder for holding the return coupon issued to the customer at the point of return in connection with the merchandise return, the selection based at least in part on the information about the merchandise return and based at least in part on the return history data.

2. The computerized system of claim 1, wherein the combination of the return coupon holder and the return coupon conveys information regarding the merchandise return transaction to a representative of the merchant.

3. The computerized system of claim 2, wherein the information regarding the merchandise return transaction includes an indication that the customer made the merchandise return transaction and that the customer has been issued a return coupon.

4. The computerized system of claim 2, wherein the information regarding the merchandise return transaction comprises an indication of a dollar amount of the return transaction.

5. The computerized system of claim 2, wherein information regarding the merchandise return transaction comprises information about one or more types of merchandise items returned by the customer.

6. The computerized system of claim 5, wherein the information about the one or more types of merchandise items includes at least one of the set consisting of:

a department associated with one or more of the merchandise items, a brand name associated with one or more of the merchandise items, and one or more SKU codes associated with one or more merchandise items.

7. The computerized system of claim 2, wherein the return coupon holder conveys the information in a non-textual manner.

8. The computerized system of claim 7, wherein the information is conveyed visually.

9. The computerized system of claim 8, wherein the information is conveyed by at least one of the set consisting of:

a size of the return coupon holder, a color of the return coupon holder, a shape of the return coupon holder, a graphic design on the return coupon holder, text or other typographic symbols on the return coupon holder, and a material from which the return coupon holder is made.

10. The computerized system of claim 8, wherein the information is conveyed by a portion of the return coupon that is visible when the return coupon holder is holding the return coupon.

11. The computerized system of claim 10, wherein the portion of the return coupon that is visible when the return coupon holder is holding the return coupon is visible through a window in the return coupon holder.

12. The computerized system of claim 7, wherein the return coupon holder conveys the information using an electronic device in the return coupon holder.

13. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the electronic device is at least one of the set consisting of:

an RFID device, an electromagnetic device, and a global positioning system (GPS) device.

14. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the electronic device is in communication with at least one device in the merchant'"'"'s store.

15. A return coupon holder configured to hold a return coupon issued to a customer in connection with a merchandise return transaction at a point of return in a merchant'"'"'s store, the return coupon holder further configured to convey information about the merchandise return to a representative of the merchant.

16. The return coupon holder of claim 15, wherein the information about the merchandise return comprises information about the profitability of the customer connected with the merchandise return transaction.

17. The return coupon holder of claim 15, wherein at least one of the set consisting of a shape of the return coupon holder and a size of the return coupon holder is configured to discourage the customer from putting the return coupon holder into a pocket or small handbag.

18. A method of conveying information to representatives of a merchant about a customer who has made a merchandise return, the method comprising:

receiving from a customer at a point of return in a merchant'"'"'s store, a request for a merchandise return transaction;

transmitting information about the requested merchandise return transaction to a return authorization service;

receiving from the return authorization service an indication of a return coupon holder type to offer to the customer for holding a return coupon issued to the customer; and

providing to the customer a return coupon holder of the indicated coupon holder type for holding the return coupon, wherein the return coupon holder and the return coupon provide information about the merchandise return transaction to the representatives of the merchant.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein providing to the customer a return coupon holder of the indicated coupon holder type comprises including information on the return holder that allows the customer to receive a special online offer.

20. A system for conveying information about a customer who has made a merchandise return to representatives of a merchant, the system comprising:

means for receiving from a customer at a point of return in a merchant'"'"'s store, a request for a merchandise return transaction;

means for transmitting information about the requested merchandise return transaction to a return authorization service;

means for receiving from the return authorization service an indication of a return coupon holder type, selected from amongst a plurality of return coupon holder types, to offer to the customer for holding a return coupon issued to the customer; and

means for providing the return coupon holder and the return coupon to the customer, wherein the return coupon holder and the return coupon provide information about the merchandise return transaction.