Method and apparatus for efficient handling of product return transactions

• US 20020188531A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc. (Nintendo Company Limited)
• Inventors: Junger, Peter Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 6,834,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

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. The regional product return center preferably scans a plurality of returned products in a single session. In response to the product identifying information submitted by the regional product return center, the manufacturer provides a list of approved returns and unapproved returns, along with a return authorization number for the batch of approved returns. The regional product return center then assembles the approved product returns into a box, shipping pallet, or the like, applies a label indicating the return authorization label, and ships the batch to the manufacturer. Shipping costs can be saved by omitting rejected product returns from the shipment. The manufacturer can handle the approved product returns from the regional return center as a batch, thereby reducing costs.

Claims

1. A method for efficient processing of product returns, comprising the steps of:

entering identifying information for each product for which return authorization is sought;

transmitting said identifying information to a remote location for a determination of whether applicable return criteria are met for each product for which return authorization is sought;

obtaining a return authorization for products which qualify for return; and

shipping said products which qualify for return along with an identification of said return authorization to obtain credit for the returned products.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying information is entered by scanning a bar code for said product.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting step is accomplished by establishing electronic communication with said remote location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said remote location is a manufacturer facility for processing product returns.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said manufacturer facility maintains a product registration database which is accessed to determine whether the product for which return authorization is sought satisfies the applicable return criteria.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said return authorization is a return authorization number and wherein said shipping step includes labeling said return authorization number on a shipping package.

7. A method for pre-authorizing product returns, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a remote location identifying information for each product for which return authorization is sought;

evaluating said identifying information to determine whether applicable return criteria are met for each product for which return authorization is sought;

creating a return authorization for products which qualify for return and forwarding said return authorization to said remote location, wherein an identification of said return authorization will accompany said products which qualify for return when said products are returned.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said identifying information includes a universal product code and a product serial number, and wherein said evaluating step includes accessing a product registration database to ensure that the identified product complies with return criteria.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said receiving step obtains said identifying information by way of electronic communication with said remote location.

10. An apparatus for obtaining pre-authorization of product returns from a remote location, comprising a local computing system having an associated data entry device and display device, and being capable of communicating with said remote location, said data entry device being operable to enter identifying information for each product for which return pre-authorization is sought, said local computing system operating in response to said identifying information to communicate said product identifying information to said remote location and, thereafter, operating in response to a return authorization received from said remote location to display said return authorization of said display.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said data entry device includes a scanner operable to read a product bar code indicating at least one of a universal product code and a product serial number.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said data entry device further includes a keyboard for manual entry of said product identifying information.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said local computing system communicates with said remote location by way of an internet connection to said remote location.