RETURN COUPON HOLDER
First Claim
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.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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- 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.
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18. A method of conveying information to representatives of a merchant about a customer who has made a merchandise return, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A system for conveying information about a customer who has made a merchandise return to representatives of a merchant, the system comprising:
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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.
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Specification