Patent ID: 8510171

Claim:
A method of operating an electronic product registration system with a customizable return program, the method comprising: defining an original return policy for a set of serialized products in the electronic product registration system, wherein the electronic product registration system comprises at least a computer processor; receiving, in connection with the electronic product registration system, a first serialized product of the set of serialized products presented for a first return request, the first serialized product having a first unique identifier associated with the pre-defined original return policy; verifying, via the electronic product registration system, the first unique identifier, wherein the verifying comprises determining that the first serialized product does not qualify for return under the pre-defined original return policy or any other pre-defined return policy; defining, using the electronic product registration system, a customized return policy for the first serialized product, the customized return policy being different from the original return policy and reflecting a planned course of action for the received first serialized product; handling, in cooperation with the electronic product registration system, the first return request based on the customized return policy; storing, in the electronic product registration system, the customized return policy, wherein the storing comprises overriding the pre-defined original return policy to create and store a modified return policy in the electronic product registration system, wherein the modified return policy acts as a pre-defined return policy for future returns of other serialized products in the set of serialized products; receiving, in connection with the electronic product registration system, a second serialized product of the set of serialized products presented for a second return request, the second serialized product having a second unique identifier associated with the pre-defined original return policy; accessing, using the electronic product registration system, the modified return policy upon receiving the second return request; and handling, in cooperation with the electronic product registration system, the second return request based on the modified return policy.