Patent ID: 8104681

Claim:
A system for a carrier to provide an inventory equalization service to a client, the system comprising: (a) at least two geographically separate nodes of each client; (b) a carrier-operated hub at which retailer identification is removed from product packaging to produce a resalable condition of the products; (c) carrier-operated vehicles to collect inventory from participating retail nodes where a surplus inventory is present and deliver the surplus inventory to the hub, collect said surplus inventory at the hub after processing and deliver the surplus inventory to the participating retail nodes where the surplus inventory is needed; (d) at least one communication means to interconnect system participants; and (e) a labeling system at a shipping node to print and apply a label to the surplus inventory for shipment, the label excluding the identity of the shipper and the identity and location of the recipient; (f) a label reading system at the vehicles to read the label and generate a recipient label including destination identity and address; (g) an accounting system of the hub to credit the account of the shippers when the surplus inventory is picked up and to debit the account of the recipient when the surplus inventory is delivered, and wherein the clients can include transients, unaffiliated businesses or competing businesses.