Systems and methods for determining whether to offer a reward at a point of return

Abstract

Computerized decision-making systems and methods are described for determining whether to provide one or more rewards, such as a coupon or instant discount, to a customer requesting to make a merchandise return at a store, and, if so, to determine the terms of the reward, such as value, expiration date / time and other terms that may be associated with a coupon. The reward determinations may be implemented in conjunction with a system for authorizing the requested merchandise return transaction. Information about the requested return may be used together with data about the customer's past purchase, return transactions, and other customer-related data. In some embodiments, the determinations are based, at least in part, on store-related information and policies. The reward may be printed with a receipt issued to the customer at the point of return and / or may be provided to the customer using a wide variety of other communications technologies.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIMS [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 672,322, filed on Apr. 18, 2005 and titled SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING, ANALYZING, AND MAKING DECISIONS ON CONSUMER RETAIL DATA, and of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 673,566, filed on Apr. 21, 2005 and titled SMART COUPONS, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to offering rewards at a point of return. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Many retail merchants have found that customers appreciate shopping at a store with a liberal merchandise return acceptance policy. However, implementing a liberal return acceptance policy may significantly decrease the store's profitability when existing sales are rescinded and returned merchandise may need to be re-sold at a discount, if it is sold again at all. Merchants would therefore like to provide the desired liberal return acceptance p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] Computerized decision-making systems and methods are described for determining whether to provide one or more coupons or other rebates or rewards to a customer requesting to make a merchandise return at a store, and, if so, to determine the terms of the reward, such as value of a coupon, expiration date/time and other limitations and/or options that may be included. Such coupons, especially if valid for only a very short duration, may encourage a customer who has made a merchandise return to make another purchase in the store before leaving. Furthermore, since research has indicated that as much as 70% of shopping decisions are made inside the store, coupons offered in-store may be especially effective in generating additional sales. The reward determination may be implemented in conjunction with a sys

Problems solved by technology

However, implementing a liberal return acceptance policy may significantly decrease the store's profitability when existing sales are rescinded and returned merchandise may need to be re-sold at a discount, if it is sold again at all.

Furthermore, many merchants have found that customers who make returns often do not soon shop again at the store.

Currently, there is little, if any, incentive offered to a customer at the merchant's point of return to reconsider making a return, to immediately use any returned funds to re-purchase at the merchant's store, or to otherwise make another purchase within a defined span of time.

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