Christine O Adkinson

US Patent:

RE42177, Mar 1, 2011

Filed:

Mar 23, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/088220

Inventors:

O. Shannon Hauser - Bellevue WA, US
Billy H. Snipes - Young Harris GA, US
Stephen S. Sugiyama - Seattle WA, US
Christine O. Adkinson - Woodinville WA, US

Assignee:

Newgistics, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06F 19/00
G06K 15/00

US Classification:

235375, 235383, 235385

Abstract:

A method for handling goods returned by customers of a plurality of different merchants. Merchants who have authorized return of merchandise transmit data identifying the customer and the merchandise to be returned to a central return facility for inclusion in a database. Customers of these merchants package the merchandise to be returned and are provided with a return authorization shipping label by the central return facility. This label includes a scannable bar code identifying the merchant and the customer. After the merchandise is received at the central returns facility, the scannable bar code is scanned so that the merchandise can be sorted by merchant, and the merchandise is then inspected to determine if the merchandise authorized for return has been received. If so, the appropriate merchant is advised, and the customer is electronically credited for the return of the merchandise. A bar code tag is attached to the returned merchandise that has been received to facilitate automated sorting on a conveyer system.

US Patent:

6536659, Mar 25, 2003

Filed:

Nov 15, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/713421

Inventors:

O. Shannon Hauser - Bellevue WA
Billy H. Snipes - Social Circle GA
Stephen S. Sugiyama - Seattle WA
Christine O. Adkinson - Woodinville WA

Assignee:

Returns Online, Inc. - Mercer Island WA

International Classification:

G06F 1700

US Classification:

235375, 235383, 235385

Abstract:

A method for handling goods returned by customers of a plurality of different merchants. Merchants who have authorized return of merchandise transmit data identifying the customer and the merchandise to be returned to a central return facility for inclusion in a database. Customers of these merchants package the merchandise to be returned and are provided with a return authorization shipping label by the central return facility. This label includes a scannable bar code identifying the merchant and the customer. After the merchandise is received at the central returns facility, the scannable bar code is scanned so that the merchandise can be sorted by merchant, and the merchandise is then inspected to determine if the merchandise authorized for return has been received. If so, the appropriate merchant is advised, and the customer is electronically credited for the return of the merchandise. A bar code tag is attached to the returned merchandise that has been received to facilitate automated sorting on a conveyer system.