Method and apparatus to manage network based return processing

1. A method for managing return-processing of a product of a manufacturer, the method comprising:

receiving, at a return-processing server separate from the manufacturer, via a network, information from a database regarding the manufacturer's return procedures for the product;

receiving, at the return-processing server, via the network, information from a client system regarding the product, wherein receiving the information comprises receiving an expiration date of the product;

determining that the product is short-dated by determining whether a difference between the expiration date and a present date is less than a threshold, wherein the threshold is a period of time less than a year;

in response to determining that the product is short-dated:

transmitting instructions for placing the product in a donation database, and

receiving a request from the client system to place the product in the donation database;

determining, at the return processing server, an amount to be credited in an electronic debit invoice;

creating, at the return-processing server, the electronic debit invoice, wherein the electronic debit invoice includes debit authorization for creating an electronic debit in accordance with the information regarding the manufacturer's return procedures for the product and the information received from the client system regarding the product; and

storing the electronic debit invoice in a debit invoice database accessible by the manufacturer for processing return credit.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein prior to the receiving the information from the client system, the method further comprises transmitting a return processing template to the client system, the return-processing template being configured for receiving the information regarding the product to be submitted for return-processing.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein prior to the receiving the information from the client system, the method further comprises scanning a machine readable code affixed to the product to be submitted for return-processing.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the scanning comprises scanning at least one of a bar code and a radio frequency identification (RFID) affixed to the product to be submitted for return-processing.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:

automatically sending carrier shipping information to the client system for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing, the carrier shipping information including information for printing a shipping label in accordance with a third party shipping entity for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing according to the carrier shipping information.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

automatically sending carrier shipping information to the client system for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing, the carrier shipping information including information for printing a shipping label in accordance with a third party shipping entity for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing according to the carrier shipping information.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions for placing the product in at least one of an auction database, a donation database and a refurbished database.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving information from the client system includes receiving at least one of a global trade industry number (GTIN), an electronic product code (ePC), or national drug code system (NDC).

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein in response to receiving the GTIN, the method further comprises using the GTIN to lookup one of a corresponding ePC and NDC in a database query.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein in response to receiving the ePC, the method further comprises using the ePC to lookup one of a corresponding GTIN and NDC in a database query.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein in response to receiving the NDC, the method further comprises using the NDC to lookup one of a corresponding GTIN and ePC in a database query.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving confirmation of a claim amount from a bank for payment on the debit invoice; and

receiving a return credit.

13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving at the return-process server, via the network, confirmation of a claim amount from a bank for payment on the debit invoice, wherein the claim amount is based on the debit invoice.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting a return processing template to the client system, wherein the template comprises a graphical user interface for receiving the information regarding the product.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information from the client system regarding whether the client wants to receive an e-mail once the product becomes short-dated.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information from the client system regarding whether the client wants to post information regarding the product to a product exchange bulletin board once the product becomes short-dated.

17. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, if executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform a method for managing return-processing of a product of a manufacturer, the method comprising:

receiving, at a return-processing server separate from the manufacturer, via a network, information from a database regarding the manufacturer's return procedures for the product;

receiving at the return-processing server, via the network, information from a client system regarding the product, wherein receiving the information comprises receiving an expiration date of the product;

determining that the product is short-dated by determining whether a difference between the expiration date and a present date is less than a threshold, wherein the threshold is a period of time less than a year;

in response to determining that the product is short-dated:

transmitting instructions for placing the product in a donation database, and

receiving a request from the client system to place the product in the donation database;

determining, at the return processing server, an amount to be credited in an electronic debit invoice;

creating, at the return-processing server, the electronic debit invoice, wherein the electronic debit invoice includes debit authorization for creating an electronic debit in accordance with the information regarding the manufacturer's return procedures for the product and the information received from the client system regarding the product; and

storing the electronic debit invoice in a debit invoice database accessible by the manufacturer for processing return credit.

18. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein prior to the receiving the information from the client system, the method further comprises transmitting a return-processing template to the client system, the return-processing template being configured for receiving the information regarding the product to be submitted for return-processing.

19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein prior to the receiving the information from the client system, the method further comprises scanning a machine readable code affixed to the product to be submitted for return-processing.

20. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19 , wherein the scanning comprises scanning at least one of a bar code and a radio frequency identification (RFID) affixed to the at least one product to be submitted for return-processing.

21. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17 , the method further comprising:

automatically sending carrier shipping information to the client system for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing the carrier shipping information including information for printing a shipping label in accordance with a third party shipping entity for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing according to the carrier shipping information.

22. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21 , the method further comprising:

automatically sending carrier shipping information to the client system for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing the carrier shipping information including information for printing a shipping label in accordance with a third party shipping entity for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing according to the carrier shipping information.

23. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions for placing the product in at least one of an auction database, a donation database and a refurbished database.

24. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein the receiving information from the client system includes receiving at least one of a global trade industry number (GTIN), an electronic product code (ePC), or national drug code system (NDC).

25. The computer-readable storage medium-according to claim 24 , wherein in response to receiving the GTIN, the method further comprises using the GTIN to lookup one of a corresponding ePC and NDC in a database query.

26. The computer-readable storage medium-according to claim 24 , wherein in response to receiving the ePC, the method further comprises using the ePC to lookup one of a corresponding GTIN and NDC in a database query.

27. The computer-readable storage medium-according to claim 24 , wherein in response to receiving the NDC, the method further comprises using the NDC to lookup one of a corresponding GTIN and ePC in a database query.

28. The computer-readable readable medium-according to claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving confirmation of a claim amount from a bank for payment on the debit invoice; and

receiving a return credit.

29. The computer-readable medium according to claim 17 , the method further comprising:

receiving at the return-process server, via the network, confirmation of a claim amount from a bank for payment on the debit invoice, wherein the claim amount is based on the debit invoice.

30. A return-processing server for managing return-processing of a product of a manufacturer, the return-processing server, which is separate from the manufacturer, comprising:

means for receiving, via a network, information from a database regarding the manufacturer's return procedures regarding the product;

means for receiving, via the network, information from a client system of the product including means for receiving an expiration date of the product;

means for determining that the product is short-dated by determining whether a difference between the expiration date and a present date is less than a threshold, wherein the threshold is a period of time less than a year;

means for transmitting instructions for placing the product in a donation database;

means for receiving a request from the client system to place the product in the donation database;

means for determining an amount to be credited in a debit invoice;

means for creating the debit invoice, wherein the electronic debit invoice includes debit authorization for creating an electronic debit in accordance with the information regarding the manufacturer's return procedures for the product and the information received from the client system regarding the product; and

means for storing the debit invoice in a debit invoice database accessible by the manufacturer for processing return credit.

31. The return-processing server according to claim 30 , further comprising means for presenting a return-processing template to the client system for receiving the information regarding the product to be submitted for return-processing.

32. The return-processing server according to claim 30 , wherein the means for receiving the information from the client system of the product to be submitted for return-processing further includes means for receiving information scanned from a machine readable code affixed to the product to be submitted for return-processing.

33. The return-processing server according to claim 32 , wherein the machine readable code includes at least one of a bar code and a radio frequency identification (RFID) affixed to the product to be submitted for return-processing.

34. The return-processing server according to claim 32 , further comprising:

means for automatically sending carrier shipping information to the client system for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing, the carrier shipping information including information for printing a shipping label in accordance with a third party shipping entity for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing according to the carrier shipping information.

35. The return-processing server according to claim 30 , further comprising:

means for automatically sending carrier shipping information to the client system for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing, the carrier shipping information including information for printing a shipping label in accordance with a third party shipping entity for shipping the product to be submitted for return-processing according to the carrier shipping information.

36. The return-processing server according to claim 30 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions for placing the product in at least one of an auction database, a donation database and a refurbished database.

37. The return-processing server according to claim 30 , wherein the means for receiving information from the client system of the product to be submitted for return-processing includes receiving at least one of a global trade industry number (GTIN), an electronic product code (ePC), or national drug code system (NDC).

38. The return-processing server according to claim 37 , further comprising means for receiving the GTIN and using the GTIN to lookup one of a corresponding ePC and NDC in a database query.

39. The return-processing server according to claim 37 , further comprising means for receiving the ePC and using the ePC to lookup one of a corresponding GTIN and NDC in a database query.

40. The return-processing server according to claim 37 , further comprising means for receiving the NDC and using the NDC to lookup one of a corresponding GTIN and ePC in a database query.

41. The return-processing server according to claim 30 , further comprising:

means for receiving, via the network, confirmation of a claim amount from a bank for payment on the debit invoice, wherein the claim amount is based on the debit invoice.

42. The return-processing server according to claim 41 , wherein the means for receiving confirmation of a claim amount from a bank for payment on the debit invoice includes receiving a return credit to reduce a tax liability related to the manufacturers product.