Patent ID: 8311901

Claim:
A method, comprising: Using a server computer which is programmed to receive an order over the Internet, via a web-based interface, said order received from a consumer, said order specifying at least one product to be purchased; Said programming on said server computer causing said receiving payment information from said consumer over the Internet; based on said receiving said order and said payment, using said programming on said computer for determining one of a plurality of different order fulfillment locations to send said at least one product to said consumer; said programming on said computer controlling sending contents from said order, from said one of said order fulfillment locations based on said determining, to the consumer, using a shipping method; subsequent to said sending, using said programming on said computer for receiving information indicative of the consumer having returned to return the contents from said order to a local retailer, where said local retailer is different than said server and different from said one of said order fulfillment locations, responsive to said consumer returning said contents, using said programming on said computer for refunding the payment received as part of said payment information; maintaining an inventory management system in a computer using programming that determines for said plurality of fulfillment locations, amounts of inventory maintained at least at a plurality of said fulfillment locations; and storing, in said inventory management system, information indicative of inventory at local retailers, and also storing information indicative of other local retailers, and using said information to select one of said retailers to send said products, and using said refund of said item to increase an indication of a number of items stored at said retailer in said inventory management system, where said programming maintains information which, for plural different items in said inventory management system, indicates whether said items are from returns.