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Method and apparatus for efficient handling of product return transactions
| Details |
Inventors: Junger, Peter Joseph;
Assignee: Nintendo of America Inc. (Redmond, WA)
Primary Examiner: Cosimano; Edward R.
Assistant Examiner: McCarty; William R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
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. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is described in the context of a particular exemplary embodiment.
However, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill that modification, extensions and changes to the disclosed exemplary embodiment may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
For instance, although the invention is described primarily in the context of a retailer/manufacturer product return situation, the features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention could likewise be applied to a store/headquarters situation, a retailer/distributor situation, or a distributor/manufacturer situation.
Also, it should be appreciated that the term "manufacturer" is used in a broad sense and may include, for example, a supplier of goods that are sold under the supplier's label, but are manufactured by another company on behalf of the supplier.
In short, the present invention is not limited to the particular forms disclosed.
Referring now to FIG.
1, an example of a typical arrangement for handling product returns is illustrated.
The present invention, of course, is applicable to other arrangements as well.
In the example arrangement of FIG.
1, a regional warehouse 1 operated by a large retail chain collects product returns from local retail stores 3A and 3B.
In the illustrated example, retail store 3A is located in the Northeast United States and retail store 3B serves the mid-Atlantic region; the retailer regional return center warehouse 1 is located in the South; and the manufacturer warehouse 5 is in the Pacific Northwest.
Of course, this example is for illustrative purposes only, and it should be appreciated that other local retail stores, regional return centers, etc.
would be present in an actual return network.
Also, it should be understood that a product return network typically would be operated in conjunction with a product distribution network.
After the returned products arrive at the regional warehouse 1, they are sorted by manufacturer and/or product, and are shipped from the regional warehouse 1 to the manufacturer warehouse 5 for credit or replacement
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Finance 
