System and method for self-service returns

1. A system for processing an in-store merchandise return transaction for a retail item purchased by a customer in-store from one of a plurality of retail facilities of a retailer, the system comprising:

a fully automated in-store self-service kiosk located within one of the plurality of retail facilities, wherein the kiosk is not staffed by any employee of the retailer and is located in an area of the retail facility accessible by the customer in possession of the item, the self-service kiosk comprising:

a reader configured to identify a purchase transaction of the item to be returned; and

a user interface configured to allow a customer to enter information using the reader or a touchscreen display relating to the purchase transaction of the item to be returned;

a database containing data relating to purchase transactions, product information, store policies, warranty information, and customer profiles; and

a control circuit coupled to the self-service kiosk and the database, the control circuit comprising a memory and configured to execute computer readable instructions stored on the memory, the computer readable instructions, when executed by the control circuit, causing the self-service kiosk to:

display to the customer a first prompt on the user interface to provide an identifier relating to the purchase transaction in which the item was previously purchased, wherein the identifier correlates the item to be returned with the previous return purchase transaction by the customer, wherein the identifier comprises at least one of an image of a purchase receipt, an e-receipt, an order number, a customer number, a UPC code, a credit card number, a telephone number, an email address, and a mailing address;

obtain from the customer, via the user interface or from the reader, the identifier relating to the purchase transaction in which the item was previously purchased;

display a second prompt on the user interface to provide a selection identifying the item from the purchase transaction to be returned;

obtain from the customer, via the user interface or from the reader, the selection identifying the item from the purchase transaction to be returned;

display a third prompt on the user interface to provide a reason for the item to be returned;

obtain from the customer, via the user interface, the reason for the item to be returned;

display a fourth prompt on the user interface to select a preferred tender for the return transaction;

obtain from the customer, via the user interface, a selection of the preferred tender for the return transaction;

automatically authorize without assistance of any employee of the retailer the return by analyzing data relating to at least one of purchase transactions, product information, store policies, warranty information, and customer profiles, wherein authorizing the return does not require assistance by a store worker; and

display instructions to the customer on the user interface for delivering the item to an unattended drop-off location in the retail facility where the kiosk is located, wherein the item is retrieved by an employee of the retailer at a time subsequent to the time of drop-off,

wherein the reader comprises at least one of a barcode reader and an image scanner, and

the computer readable instructions, when executed by the control circuit, enable the customer to perform the entire return transaction independently using the self-service kiosk such that the entire return transaction can be completed by the customer in the retail facility using only the self-service kiosk.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location of the retail facility where the item is to be returned is different from a location of a retail facility from which the item was purchased.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the self-service kiosk further comprises a printing device, and when the return transaction is authorized, the control circuit causes the printing device to print a return label comprising a unique identifier relating to the return transaction.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to provide instructions to the customer to affix the return label to the item and to deliver the item to the unattended drop-off area of the retail facility.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to provide an alert to a store worker when at least one condition is satisfied.

6. A method for processing an in-store merchandise return transaction for a retail item purchased by a customer in-store from one of a plurality of retail facilities of a retailer using a fully automated in-store self-service kiosk located within one of the plurality of retail facilities, wherein the kiosk is not staffed by any employee of the retailer and is located in an area of the retail facility accessible by the customer in possession of the item, the self-service kiosk comprising a reader configured to identify a purchase transaction of the item to be returned, and a user interface configured to allow a customer to enter information using the reader or a touchscreen display relating to the purchase transaction the item to be returned, the method comprising:

by a control circuit coupled to the self-service kiosk, the control circuit comprising a memory and configured to execute computer readable instructions stored on the memory:

displaying to the customer a first prompt on the user interface to provide an identifier relating to the purchase transaction in which the item was previously purchased, wherein the identifier correlates the item to be returned with the previous return purchase transaction by the customer, wherein the identifier comprises at least one of an image of a purchase receipt, an e-receipt, an order number, a customer number, a UPC code, a credit card number, a telephone number, an email address, and a mailing address;

obtaining from the customer, via the user interface, the identifier relating to the purchase transaction in which the item was previously purchased;

displaying a second prompt on the user interface to provide a selection identifying the item from the purchase transaction to be returned;

obtaining from the customer, via the user interface or from the reader, the selection identifying the item from the purchase transaction to be returned;

displaying a third prompt on the user interface to provide a reason for the item to be returned;

obtaining from the customer, via the user interface, the reason for the item to be returned;

displaying a fourth prompt on the user interface to select a preferred tender for the return transaction;

obtaining from the customer, via the user interface, a selection of the preferred tender for the return transaction;

authorizing the return without assistance of any employee of the retailer by analyzing data relating to at least one of purchase transactions, product information, store policies, warranty information, and customer profiles, said data being contained in a database, wherein authorizing the return does not require assistance by a store worker; and

displaying instructions to the customer on the user interface for delivering the item to an unattended drop-off location in the retail facility where the kiosk is located, wherein the item is retrieved by an employee of the retailer at a time subsequent to the time of drop-off,

wherein the reader comprises at least one of a barcode reader and an image scanner, and

the computer readable instructions, when executed by the control circuit, enable the customer to perform the entire return transaction independently using the self-service kiosk such that the entire return transaction can be completed by the customer in the retail facility using only the self-service kiosk.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the location of the retail facility where the item is to be returned is different from a location of a retail facility from which the item was purchased.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising causing a printing device associated with the self-service kiosk to print a return label comprising a unique identifier relating to the return transaction.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing instructions to the customer to affix the return label to the item and to deliver the item to the unattended drop-off area of the retail facility.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to provide an alert to a store worker when at least one condition is satisfied.