Systems and methods for data collection and providing coupons at a point of return
First Claim
1. A method as recited in processing a merchandise return, comprising the steps of:
- identifying shared return information about prior merchandise returns of items being returned by different consumers to different merchants, wherein the shared return information is shared among the different merchants, the shared return information further comprising whether the prior merchandise returns were authorized, and the shared return information further comprising consumer identification information regarding the different consumers associated with the prior merchandise returns;
obtaining from the merchant'"'"'s point of return, information about the items associated with a consumer and a current merchandise return of the consumer;
obtaining from the merchant'"'"'s point of return, consumer identification information regarding the consumer making the current merchandise return;
determining a return history of the consumer based on the shared return information and the consumer identification information; and
determining acceptability of future merchandise returns by the consumer based at least in part on the return history of the consumer.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for collecting data at a merchant'"'"'s point of return for use in processing a merchandise return transaction that is being requested by a customer. In various embodiments, the data may be collected using a wide variety of data collection technologies and may be used in conjunction with stored data, including data collected from other merchants, by a return authorization system to make a determination whether to accept or deny the requested merchandise return and whether to provide a coupon to the customer. The data may additionally or alternatively be used to determine whether to issue a warning to the customer about limitations on future return transactions presented by the customer. Examples of data categories that may be collected include, but are not limited to, information about: the merchant, the customer, the requested transaction, the merchandise being returned, one or more receipts, a clerk processing the transaction, and other general applicable information.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method as recited in processing a merchandise return, comprising the steps of:
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identifying shared return information about prior merchandise returns of items being returned by different consumers to different merchants, wherein the shared return information is shared among the different merchants, the shared return information further comprising whether the prior merchandise returns were authorized, and the shared return information further comprising consumer identification information regarding the different consumers associated with the prior merchandise returns; obtaining from the merchant'"'"'s point of return, information about the items associated with a consumer and a current merchandise return of the consumer; obtaining from the merchant'"'"'s point of return, consumer identification information regarding the consumer making the current merchandise return; determining a return history of the consumer based on the shared return information and the consumer identification information; and determining acceptability of future merchandise returns by the consumer based at least in part on the return history of the consumer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification