Methods of returning merchandise purchased by a customer from a vendor, computer implemented methods performed by a vendor, and return of merchandise processing apparatuses
View Patent ↗A currency distribution system and method. In accordance with the invention, a first transaction is facilitated by which currency is transferred electronically between a first entity and a second entity, and whereby a first balance of currency is maintained by said second entity. A second transaction is facilitated by which at least a portion of the first balance of currency is transferred electronically between the second entity and a third entity. In particular, the second transaction is facilitated by a processor that includes code for ascertaining data with respect to the third entity, the data pertaining to goods or services unrelated to the currency, and providing a qualification in response thereto. A second processor included for enabling the second transaction in response to the qualification. A database is employed and a query is made to determine the qualification for the second transaction. In an illustrative embodiment, the first entity is a postal service, the second entity is a vendor, and the third entity is a customer of the vendor. In the illustrative application, the currency is postage and the processor communicates the ability to print and utilize postage to the customer. The postage is used to return goods from the customer to the vendor.
1. A method of returning merchandise purchased by a customer from a vendor, the method comprising:
purchasing, by a customer, an item of merchandise from a vendor;
a computer of the customer generating an electronic request seeking to return the item of merchandise after the purchasing;
communicating the electronic request from the computer of the customer to the vendor;
the vendor providing a return material authorization approving the electronic request to return the item of merchandise;
after the providing, the vendor creating an executable computer file comprising an expiration date and an amount of postage for the return of the item of merchandise from the customer to the vendor, wherein the executable computer file expires after the expiration date;
debiting a postage account of the vendor corresponding to the amount of the postage for the return of the item of merchandise from the customer to the vendor;
communicating the executable computer file from the vendor to the computer of the customer;
the computer of the customer executing the executable computer file to control printing of a shipping label including the postage for the return of the item of merchandise from the customer to the vendor, the executing causing the printing of the shipping label;
affixing the shipping label to the item of merchandise; and
after the affixing, shipping the item of merchandise from the customer to the vendor using the postage.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic request comprises an identifier of the item of merchandise, and wherein the providing the return material authorization comprises processing the identifier using a computer of the vendor and automatically providing the return material authorization without user intervention.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing the return material authorization comprises providing responsive to approval of the electronic request by a customer service representative of the vendor.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the creating comprises creating the executable computer file comprising a one-time executable file.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the creating comprises creating the executable computer file comprising the expiration date which defines an amount of time for returning the item of merchandise to the vendor using the postage.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the creating comprises creating the executable computer file comprising a return address and Information Based Indicia (IBI) of the postage, and wherein the shipping label includes the return address.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the creating comprises creating the executable computer file including the return material authorization, and wherein the shipping label includes the return material authorization.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
the vendor storing a record comprising details of the item of merchandise; and
using the record, the vendor calculating the amount of the postage for the return of the item of merchandise from the customer to the vendor.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the executable computer file is not operational to cause printing of the shipping label after the expiration date.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the executable computer file is not executable to cause printing of the shipping label after the expiration date.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the creating comprises creating the executable computer file to be non-operational to cause the printing of the shipping label after the expiration date.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the creating comprises creating the executable computer file to be not executable to cause the printing of the shipping label after the expiration date.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the expiration date defines a date after which the file is not executable to print the shipping label.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the executable computer file comprises instructions configured to prevent printing of more than one copy of the shipping label.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the executable computer file comprises instructions configured to cause the computer of the customer to control the printing of the shipping label.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the debiting occurs simultaneously with the creating the executable computer file.