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a liberal return acceptance policy may significantly decrease the store's profitability when existing sales are rescinded and returned merchandise may need to be re-sold at a discount, if it is sold again at all.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

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