System and method for single-action returns of remotely purchased merchandise

• US 8,386,337 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Global Logistics LLC
• Original Assignee: Newgistics Incorporated
• Inventors: Siegel, Philip S
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US09/817,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20010047315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,355 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A system and method for performing single-action returns of remotely purchased merchandise is provided. The system preferably includes at least one server and at least one client coupled via a network. The server is preferably operable to identify the user of the client system and retrieve a transaction listing for the identified user. The client system preferably displays the transaction listing to the user and allows the user to perform a single action to select transactions and/or merchandise for returns processing. In response to the single action performed, the server system preferably initiates and completes a returns process based upon stored user preferences for such returns. The returns process can include returning merchandise to the retailer from which it was purchased, auctioning the unwanted merchandise, notifying a shipping agent of the return as well as other return procedures.

Claims

1. A method for processing the returns of merchandise purchased through the World Wide Web comprising:

receiving, from a consumer, an electronic request via a computerized system associated with the consumer, the electronic request requesting to initiate processing of one or more items of merchandise purchased by the consumer in a prior purchase transaction;

in response to receiving the electronic request from the computing system associated with the consumer, gathering transaction history data associated with the consumer from a computerized database;

displaying the transaction history associated with the identified consumer to the consumer on the computerized system associated with the consumer, the transaction history identifying a listing of merchandise associated with the consumer;

in response to and after displaying the transaction history, receiving an electronic selection, generated by the consumer on the computerized system associated with the consumer, of a particular item of merchandise within the listing of merchandise in the displayed transaction history, the electronic selection comprising a click on the particular item of merchandise within the list of merchandise and identifying the particular item of merchandise for returns processing; and

in response to receiving the electronic selection comprising the click on the particular item of merchandise within the list of merchandise, initiating a returns process for the particular item of merchandise selected by the consumer from the list of merchandise purchased by the consumer in the prior purchase transaction, the returns process initiated by a returns server.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising retrieving a preference profile for the identified consumer.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising crediting a consumer account indicated in the consumer preference profile based upon the item selected.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying a retailer associated with the item selected by the consumer.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising providing the retailer with the transaction information and consumer information associated with the item selected by the consumer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a return shipping label for the merchandise to be returned.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying a shipping provider of a merchandise return to be picked up.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

auctioning the merchandise selected for return by the consumer.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating between a client system and a server system via the Internet.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising completing the returns process based upon settings in the consumer preference profile.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the consumer preference profile comprises a name associated with the consumer, credit information associated with the consumer, and shipping information associated with the consumer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the consumer comprises identifying the consumer using a login process.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising requesting transaction history data from a retailer on a real-time basis upon identifying the consumer using the login process.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving transaction history data from a retailer on a periodic basis.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the listing of merchandise in the transaction history is indicative of merchandise purchased by the consumer from an retailer.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the consumer, wherein identifying the consumer comprises receiving a client system identifier in a message from the consumer.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the return process comprises validating the item of merchandise selected to authorize the return of the item of merchandise.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the return process comprises comparing information associated with the selection of the item of merchandise to at least one return rule of a retailer associated with the transaction.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the return process comprises determining if the selected item of merchandise is perishable.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the return process comprises using the computerized system associated with the consumer to generate a return shipping label to be used to return the selected item.

21. A method for processing the returns of merchandise purchased through the World Wide Web comprising:

receiving login information from a consumer associated with the purchase of one or more items of merchandise, the login information received from a computerized system associated with the consumer;

using the login information to complete a login process to identify the consumer;

gathering transaction history data associated with the identified consumer from a computerized database;

causing the transaction history associated with the identified consumer to be displayed to the consumer on the computerized system associated with the consumer, the transaction history identifying a listing of merchandise having been purchased by the consumer from a retailer;

in response to and after displaying the transaction history, receiving an electronic selection, generated by the consumer, of a particular item of merchandise within the listing of merchandise in the displayed transaction history, the electronic selection comprising a click on the particular item of merchandise within the list of merchandise and identifying the particular item of merchandise for returns processing; and

in response to receiving the electronic selection comprising the click on the particular item of merchandise within the list of merchandise, initiating a returns process for the particular item of merchandise selected by the consumer from the list of merchandise purchased by the consumer in a prior purchase transaction, the returns process initiated by a returns server.