Patent ID: 8380584

Claim:
A method of using a computer system for on-line processing of merchandise returns for a plurality of merchants, comprising the steps of: storing a set of return rules in a database for each of the plurality of merchants; receiving, via the Internet, a return request representing a request by a customer to initiate a return of at least one item of merchandise; in response to receiving the return request from the customer, gathering transaction history data associated with the customer from a computerized database; displaying the transaction history to the customer for selection of a particular item of merchandise within a listing of merchandise included in the transaction history; receiving, from a customer, an electronic selection by a click on the particular item of merchandise in the displayed listing of merchandise, the electronic selection identifying the particular item of merchandise for returns processing; in response to receiving the click on the particular item of merchandise in the listing of merchandise, using the set of return rules associated with the identified merchant and the transaction information to validate the return; upon validating the return, electronically delivering data about the customer to the merchant associated with the return; processing the return in accordance with the set of return rules associated with the merchant.