System and method for integrated payment and shipping information

• US 7,899,716 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glyde Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glyde Corporation
• Inventors: Rothman, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desai, Resha
• Application Number:
  US11/963,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/340
• US Class Current: 705/26.35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A product distribution module integrated with a payment module. Actions in the distribution module trigger actions in the payment module. For example, a user clicking a “buy” button triggers the creation of a product mailer for a seller, and triggers the payment module to collect and hold the purchase price and shipping costs from the buyer. Acceptance of delivery by the buyer, or the expiration of a time-out period after tracking delivery by the distribution module, triggers release of the purchase price to the seller. A “shared responsibility” return method and system is also provided. The buyer has until a time out period to object to the product. If the buyer objects, in the buyer'"'"'s discretion the product can be returned, but the buyer is required to pay a portion of the return shipping costs subject to an algorithm.

Claims

1. A method for returning a product ordered from a multi-seller website, comprising:

receiving a communication from a buyer of the product requesting a return of the product to a seller of the product;

providing a mailer with postage and tracking data to the buyer for return of the product; and

allocating, with a computer, return shipping costs between the seller and the buyer, wherein a first portion of the return shipping costs are allocated to the buyer and a remaining portion of the shipping costs are allocated to the seller, wherein the amount of the first portion is determined based on the reputation of the buyer.

2. A method for returning a product ordered from a multi-seller website, comprising:

receiving a communication from a buyer of the product requesting a return of the product to a seller of the product;

providing a mailer with postage and tracking data to the buyer for return of the product; and

allocating, with a computer, return shipping costs between the seller and the buyer, wherein a first portion of the return shipping costs are allocated to the buyer and a remaining portion of the shipping costs are allocated to the seller, wherein the amount of the first portion is determined based on the reputation of the seller.

3. A method for returning a product ordered from a multi-seller website, comprising:

receiving a communication from a buyer of the product requesting a return of the product to a seller of the product;

providing a mailer with postage and tracking data to the buyer for return of the product; and

allocating, with a computer, return shipping costs between the seller and the buyer, wherein a first portion of the return shipping costs are allocated to the buyer and a remaining portion of the shipping costs are allocated to the seller, wherein the amount of the first portion is determined based on the reputation of both the buyer and the seller.