System and method of handling product returns

Abstract

A method and program product for conducting business transactions, transferring product ownership and handling product returns with paperless receipts. Biometric data and product or transaction specific identification information is included with electronic receipts generated for each purchase. The same information may be collected when a product is presented for a return and refund that is based on an electronic or paper receipt. The information collected at the return is compared against the same information in the electronic receipt, automating the return-handling process and reducing the frequency of fraudulent returns.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present invention is a continuation in part of published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 430,824 (Attorney Docket No. BLD920030021US1), entitled “Point-of-Sale Receipt Electronic Generation” to Joan L. Mitchell et al., filed May 6, 2003 and published Nov. 11, 2004, publication No. 2004 / 0225567 A1; and related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,706 B2 (Attorney Docket No. BLD920030020US1), entitled “Point-of-Sale Bill Authentication” to Scott D. Mastie et al., issued Apr. 26, 2005; to published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 446,204 (Attorney Docket No. BLD920030019US1), entitled “Expense Accounting Data Management Based on Electronic Expense Document” to Joan L. Mitchell et al., filed May 27, 2003 and published Dec. 2, 2004, publication No. 2004 / 0243489 A1; and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / ______ (Attorney Docket No. BLD920050045US1), entitled “System And Method of Directly Providing Electronic Receipts” to Scott D. Mastie et...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] It is therefore a purpose of the invention to eliminate the need for paper receipts;

[0009] It is another purpose of this invention to reduce the incidence of fraudulent returns in retail sales;

[0010] It is yet another purpose of the invention to eliminate the need for paper receipts, while allowing returns for purchased goods without requiring paper receipts, while reducing the incidence of fraudulent returns in retail sales.

Problems solved by technology

Customers frequently discard or misplace paper receipts and, in the case of gifts, may never receive a gift receipt.

Without a receipt, a thief cannot return stolen goods.

If, however, the receipt is in a bag with merchandise, after breaking into the car and stealing the packages, the thief has the merchandise and the receipt.

The thief can make the return and the customer is left with auto damage and the bill.

This can be awkward for gifts, for example, where a newlywed couple / recipient may prefer immediate, unannounced access to the purchase money without notifying the gift-giver of having returned the gift.

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