SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER TO OFFER A REWARD AT A POINT OF RETURN
First Claim
1. A computerized system for providing a reward incentive to a customer desiring to return merchandise to a merchant at a point of return, the system comprising:
- a device operated by a clerk at a merchant facility, the device configured to receive information that identifies the clerk and the device further configured to receive information about a current merchandise return by a customer at a merchant'"'"'s point of return within a merchant'"'"'s physical location, wherein the current merchandise return comprises one or more items that the customer desires to return to the merchant for a credit;
at least one database comprising return data wherein the return data comprises information about return history of prior merchandise returns associated with the return of one or more items by customers to merchants; and
at least one decision engine comprising computer hardware having one or more computer processors configured to determine whether to offer a reward incentive to the customer at the point of return, wherein the reward incentive is in addition to a credit given for the returned items;
wherein the decision engine analyzes customer identification data to create a customer identity that correlates the customer identity with external customer information obtained from one or more external data sources, the external customer information comprising at least a customer'"'"'s address;
wherein the decision engine uses the customer'"'"'s address associated with the external customer information to determine a geographical distance from a customer'"'"'s address to the merchant facility where the merchandise return transaction occurs;
wherein the decision engine determines whether to offer the reward incentive based on the geographical distance from the customer'"'"'s address to the merchant facility;
wherein the decision engine further determines whether to offer the reward incentive by comparing a home address of the clerk with the customer'"'"'s address associated with the external customer information;
wherein the decision engine uses the return history of the customer to further determine whether to offer the reward incentive for types of products that the customer has not returned in the past;
wherein the decision engine further determines to reduce the amount of the reward incentive for the types of products that the customer has purchased in the past; and
wherein the device, in response to the determinations by the decision engine, issues the return authorization at the point of return within the merchant'"'"'s physical location, wherein the reward incentive incentivizes the customer to make a purchase with at least a portion of the credit before leaving the merchant'"'"'s physical location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Computerized decision-making systems and methods are described for determining whether to provide one or more rewards, such as a coupon or instant discount, to a customer requesting to make a merchandise return at a store, and, if so, to determine the terms of the reward, such as value, expiration date/time and other terms that may be associated with a coupon. The reward determinations may be implemented in conjunction with a system for authorizing the requested merchandise return transaction. Information about the requested return may be used together with data about the customer'"'"'s past purchase, return transactions, and other customer-related data. In some embodiments, the determinations are based, at least in part, on store-related information and policies. The reward may be printed with a receipt issued to the customer at the point of return and/or may be provided to the customer using a wide variety of other communications technologies.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A computerized system for providing a reward incentive to a customer desiring to return merchandise to a merchant at a point of return, the system comprising:
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a device operated by a clerk at a merchant facility, the device configured to receive information that identifies the clerk and the device further configured to receive information about a current merchandise return by a customer at a merchant'"'"'s point of return within a merchant'"'"'s physical location, wherein the current merchandise return comprises one or more items that the customer desires to return to the merchant for a credit; at least one database comprising return data wherein the return data comprises information about return history of prior merchandise returns associated with the return of one or more items by customers to merchants; and at least one decision engine comprising computer hardware having one or more computer processors configured to determine whether to offer a reward incentive to the customer at the point of return, wherein the reward incentive is in addition to a credit given for the returned items; wherein the decision engine analyzes customer identification data to create a customer identity that correlates the customer identity with external customer information obtained from one or more external data sources, the external customer information comprising at least a customer'"'"'s address; wherein the decision engine uses the customer'"'"'s address associated with the external customer information to determine a geographical distance from a customer'"'"'s address to the merchant facility where the merchandise return transaction occurs; wherein the decision engine determines whether to offer the reward incentive based on the geographical distance from the customer'"'"'s address to the merchant facility; wherein the decision engine further determines whether to offer the reward incentive by comparing a home address of the clerk with the customer'"'"'s address associated with the external customer information; wherein the decision engine uses the return history of the customer to further determine whether to offer the reward incentive for types of products that the customer has not returned in the past; wherein the decision engine further determines to reduce the amount of the reward incentive for the types of products that the customer has purchased in the past; and wherein the device, in response to the determinations by the decision engine, issues the return authorization at the point of return within the merchant'"'"'s physical location, wherein the reward incentive incentivizes the customer to make a purchase with at least a portion of the credit before leaving the merchant'"'"'s physical location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification