Processing a return request

• US 9,652,732 B1
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Barstad, David, Branham, Thomas William, Wegmiller, Julie Lynne, Person, Jamie Ann, Erpelding, Lara, Chandrashekaran, Jayachandran, Silla, Koteswara R., Balakrishnan, Sreeraj
• Primary Examiner(s): Rojas, H
• Application Number:
  US12/613,210
• Time in Patent Office: 2,749 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/407 Cancellation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

In one embodiment, a point of return device can be configured to gather information related to a return request and a returning customer. Upon providing the information to an authorization server, the server can identify historical transaction data of the returning customer from data stored in a repository. Based on the historical transaction data and on the return request, the authorization server determines a return authorization decision based on an item-level return policy, another decision based on customer-specific return privileges, and optionally, another authorization decision based on registry-related return privileges. Upon processing the return request based on a selected return authorization decision, data representative of the processed return request is optionally stored in the repository to update the previously identified customer transaction data.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for processing a return request, the method comprising:

receiving data representative of a returning customer;

receiving data representative of a return request, wherein the return request data is associated with one or more items and includes one or more item identifiers;

accessing a customer transactions data server and identifying historical transaction data associated with the returning customer from data stored in the customer transactions data server;

identifying with a sales and returns processing server an item-level return policy associated with the one or more items;

identifying with the sales and returns processing server a customer-specific set of return privileges selected from a plurality of return privilege tiers, based on the historical transaction data associated with the returning customer, wherein a first return privilege tier includes return privileges for customers having a net spending amount that exceeds a first predetermined value over a predetermined period of time, wherein a second return privilege tier includes increased return privileges for customers having a net spending amount that exceeds a second predetermined value, higher than the first predetermined value, over the predetermined period of time, and wherein a third return privilege tier includes reduced return privileges for customers spending less than a predefined amount over the predetermined period of time;

optionally identifying a registry-related set of return privileges, based on an association of the returning customer with a gift registry;

the sales and returns processing server determining a first return authorization decision based on the item-level return policy, the first return authorization decision being a decision to approve or deny the return request;

the sales and returns processing server determining a second return authorization decision based on the customer-specific set of return privileges, the second return authorization decision being a decision to approve or deny the return request;

the sales and returns processing server optionally determining a third return authorization decision based on the registry-related set of return privileges, the third return authorization decision being a decision to approve or deny the return request;

the sales and returns processing server processing the return request based on the first, the second and, if determined, the third return authorization decisions; and

storing data in the customer transactions data server representative of the processed return request to update the previously identified historical transaction data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the historical transaction data includes the value of one or more items previously purchased by the returning customer and the value of one or more items previously returned by the returning customer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first return authorization decision is also based on the historical transaction data of the returning customer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the second return authorization decision is also based at least in part on a set of attributes of one or more items included in the return request, the item attributes including at least one selected from the group consisting of i) product category, ii) value, iii) condition, iv) purchase date, and v) return date.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first, second, and third return authorization decisions is also based at least in part on a period of time between an item purchase and the return request.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein if the registry-related set of return privileges is identified, the method further comprising receiving registry data and wherein determining the third return authorization decision is also based at least in part on the registry data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the registry data includes at least one datum selected from the group consisting of i) date of registry creation, ii) value of items included on the registry, iii) value of previously purchased items included on the registry, and iv) product category of items included on the registry.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the third return authorization decision is also based at least in part on an inclusion of one or more registry items in the return request.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving data representative of a purchasing customer and identifying historical transaction data of the purchasing customer from data stored in the repository, wherein determining the third return authorization decision is also based at least in part on historical transactions of the purchasing customer.