Return coupon holder
First Claim
1. A computerized system that uses a return coupon holder to electronically track the location of a customer making a merchandise return at a merchant'"'"'s store, and based on the location of the customer the computerized system generates alerts over a wireless data transmission system to at least one sales clerk that the customer is in the vicinity of the sales clerk, the system comprising:
- a return coupon holder comprising an electronic customer tracking device attached thereto or embedded therein, the return coupon holder further configured to hold a return coupon associated with merchandise returned by a customer a point of return associated with a merchant'"'"'s store, wherein the return coupon holder is separate from the return coupon, and wherein the return coupon holder holds the return coupon;
a return coupon holder decision engine comprising computer hardware, wherein the return coupon holder decision engine receives information about the merchandise returned by the customer, and wherein the return coupon holder decision engine determines whether to give a return coupon holder comprising the electronic customer tracking device to the customer based at least in part on information about the merchandise returned by the customer;
one or more sensors in the merchant'"'"'s store that senses the electronic customer tracking device and electronically collects activity information regarding customer activities in the merchant'"'"'s store from the electronic customer tracking device; and
one or more computer devices in the merchant'"'"'s store that process the activity information collected by the one or more sensors to electronically track the location of the customer in the merchant'"'"'s store;
wherein the one or more computer devices, based on the location of the customer, creates an alert that comprises information about the merchandise returned by the customer;
the one or more computer devices electronically transmit the alert over a wireless data transmission system to least one sales clerk in the vicinity of the customer that the customer is associated with a merchandise return, wherein the alert provides information to the sales clerk about the merchandise returned by the customer.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A return coupon holder is described for holding a return coupon issued in a store in conjunction with a customer'"'"'s merchandise return transaction. The return coupon holder is preferably sized large enough to discourage the customer from stowing the coupon away, such as in a handbag. Additionally, holders may be of different types that visually or electronically convey information about a category associated with the customer'"'"'s return transaction. Thus, salespersons may accordingly provide appropriate customer service to the customer. The holder categories may indicate an approximate dollar value of the return transaction, a type of merchandise returned, a return payment method, an assessment of the profitability of the customer, an assessment of the risk of fraud associated with the return transaction, and the like. A computer decision system may select holder type. Some embodiments of the coupon holder are fitted with a device that allow tracing of the customer'"'"'s movements while still in the store.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computerized system that uses a return coupon holder to electronically track the location of a customer making a merchandise return at a merchant'"'"'s store, and based on the location of the customer the computerized system generates alerts over a wireless data transmission system to at least one sales clerk that the customer is in the vicinity of the sales clerk, the system comprising:
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a return coupon holder comprising an electronic customer tracking device attached thereto or embedded therein, the return coupon holder further configured to hold a return coupon associated with merchandise returned by a customer a point of return associated with a merchant'"'"'s store, wherein the return coupon holder is separate from the return coupon, and wherein the return coupon holder holds the return coupon; a return coupon holder decision engine comprising computer hardware, wherein the return coupon holder decision engine receives information about the merchandise returned by the customer, and wherein the return coupon holder decision engine determines whether to give a return coupon holder comprising the electronic customer tracking device to the customer based at least in part on information about the merchandise returned by the customer; one or more sensors in the merchant'"'"'s store that senses the electronic customer tracking device and electronically collects activity information regarding customer activities in the merchant'"'"'s store from the electronic customer tracking device; and one or more computer devices in the merchant'"'"'s store that process the activity information collected by the one or more sensors to electronically track the location of the customer in the merchant'"'"'s store; wherein the one or more computer devices, based on the location of the customer, creates an alert that comprises information about the merchandise returned by the customer; the one or more computer devices electronically transmit the alert over a wireless data transmission system to least one sales clerk in the vicinity of the customer that the customer is associated with a merchandise return, wherein the alert provides information to the sales clerk about the merchandise returned by the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computerized method that uses a return coupon holder to electronically track the location of a customer making a merchandise return at a merchant'"'"'s store, and based on the location of the customer the computerized system generates alerts over a wireless data transmission system to at least one sales clerk that the customer is in the vicinity of the sales clerk, the system comprising:
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receiving information about merchandise returned by a customer at a return coupon holder decision engine that comprises computer hardware; determining with the return coupon holder decision engine whether to provide a return coupon holder to the customer, based at least in part on information about the merchandise returned by the customer, the return coupon holder configured to hold a return coupon to the customer, wherein the return coupon holder is separate from the return coupon, and wherein the return coupon holder holds the return coupon, the return coupon holder comprising an electronic customer tracking device; providing to the customer, the return coupon holder comprising the electronic customer tracking device attached thereto or embedded therein; sensing the electronic customer tracking device with one or more sensors, in the merchant'"'"'s store, wherein the sensing electronically collects activity information regarding customer activities in the merchant'"'"'s store from the electronic customer tracking device; processing with one or more computer devices the activity information collected by the one or more sensors to electronically track the location of the customer in the merchant'"'"'s store; creating with the one or more computer devices, based on the location of the customer, an alert that comprises information about the merchandise returned by the customer; electronically transmitting an alert over a wireless data transmission system to at least one sales clerk in the vicinity of the customer that the customer is associated with a merchandise return, the alerting based at least in part on the information collected by the one or more sensors, and wherein the alert provides information to the sales clerk about the merchandise returned by the customer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification