METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENT HANDLING OF PRODUCT RETURN TRANSACTIONS

• US 20120166320A1
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc. (Nintendo Company Limited)
• Inventors: JUNGER, Peter Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/014 Providing recall services for goods or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A method and apparatus for efficient handling of product returns to reduce associated costs. A computer system at a regional product return center scans a returned product for identifying information, accesses a manufacturer return approval computer system through the internet or the like, and then submits the identifying information to the manufacturer for return approval. The manufacturer computer system utilizes the identifying information to access an electronic registration database to determine whether the returned product satisfies applicable return criteria. If so, the product is approved for return to the manufacturer.

Claims

1. An electronic system for obtaining remote pre-approval for returns of uniquely identified products, comprising:

a computer system configured to execute instructions tangibly stored on a computer readable storage medium for performing a method comprising;

receiving, from a location remote from the electronic system, a unique identifier uniquely identifying each product for which return authorization is sought;

evaluating each said unique identifier for each said product for which return authorization is sought against an electronic database system of the electronic system to determine whether applicable vendor-specified return criteria are met, the applicable vendor-specified return criteria for each product being accessible via the electronic database system with reference to the unique identifier associated with corresponding product;

creating a return authorization for products that qualify for return; and

forwarding said return authorization to said remote location,

wherein an identification of said return authorization is to accompany said products that qualify for return when said products are returned.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said unique identifier includes a universal product code and/or a product serial number.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises obtaining said unique identifier by way of electronic communication with said remote location.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display located at the remote location configured to display the identification of said return authorization for each product.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said evaluating comprises processing all received unique identifiers as one or more batches of products to be evaluated against the electronic database system.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising a display located at the remote location configured to display status information regarding each said batch.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said identification of said return authorization is provided for each said batch.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote location is a point-of-sale location.