Method and apparatus for efficient handling of product return transactions
First Claim
1. A method for efficient processing of product returns from a first facility to a second facility in connection with an electronic registration (ER) system comprising a computer including a processor, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the computer and at the first facility, unique identifying information for each product for which return authorization is sought;
transmitting, by the computer, for each product for which return authorization is sought, the unique identifying information to a general database for a determination as to whether applicable return criteria are met based on information stored in the general database;
obtaining, by the computer and the processor of the ER system, a return authorization from the general database for products that qualify for return in response to determinations that applicable return criteria are met; and
enabling the products that qualify for return to be shipped, along with an identification of the return authorization, to the second facility to obtain credit for the returned products,wherein the general database is located at a location remote from the first facility, and wherein the transmitting is accomplished via electronic communication with the remote location.
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Accused Products
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.
177 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for efficient processing of product returns from a first facility to a second facility in connection with an electronic registration (ER) system comprising a computer including a processor, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the computer and at the first facility, unique identifying information for each product for which return authorization is sought; transmitting, by the computer, for each product for which return authorization is sought, the unique identifying information to a general database for a determination as to whether applicable return criteria are met based on information stored in the general database; obtaining, by the computer and the processor of the ER system, a return authorization from the general database for products that qualify for return in response to determinations that applicable return criteria are met; and enabling the products that qualify for return to be shipped, along with an identification of the return authorization, to the second facility to obtain credit for the returned products, wherein the general database is located at a location remote from the first facility, and wherein the transmitting is accomplished via electronic communication with the remote location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for pre-authorizing product returns from a first facility to a second facility using an electronic registration (ER) system comprising a computer including a processor, the method comprising:
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receiving, from the first facility, unique identifying information for each product for which return authorization is sought; evaluating, by the computer and the processor of the ER system and for each product for which return authorization is sought, the unique identifying information to determine whether applicable return criteria are met, the applicable return criteria being determined in connection with a product registration database and depending on whether the product has been physically received; for products that qualify for return, creating a return authorization code and forwarding the return authorization code to the first facility using the computer and the processor of the ER system, wherein return authorization codes are to accompany the products that qualify for return when the products are returned to the second facility. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of reducing unauthorized returns of purchased products from a first facility to a second facility, the method comprising:
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(a) maintaining a product information database remote from the first facility, the database including information for each purchased product as well as return criteria for purchased products; (b) receiving unique product identification information from the first facility at a host system having access to said product information database, wherein the unique product identification information uniquely identifies a product for which a return is sought; (c) using the host system to access the product information database to identify applicable return criteria for the product based on the unique product identification information; (d) determining, by a computer processor, whether the product qualifies for return based on the identified applicable return criteria; (e) transmitting, by the computer processor, to the first facility a return qualification message that indicates whether the product qualifies for return; (f) determining whether the product has been physically returned to the first facility; and (g) indicating that the product should be accepted for return at the second facility if the return qualification message indicates that the product qualifies for return and if the product has been returned to the first facility. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification