Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of managing overstock products at a retail sales facility include scanning a product at a stock room location of the retail sales facility using a hand-held electronic device including a processor. At least two of three functions are performed based on the scanning. First, the product may be audited by comparing data obtained by scanning the product to data contained in an inventory management database. Second, a determination of whether the scanned item is on a pick list may be made, which may include determining a demand for the scanned product to arrive at a decision whether to store the product in the stock room or place it on a shelf on the sales floor. Third, if the item is to be stored in the stock room, a determination of whether identical items are stored in bins in the stock room may be made.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for operating a mobile device, comprising: establishing by a locking mechanism at the mobile device that the mobile device is owned or controlled by a retail establishment at which an operator of the mobile device is an agent; searching, by a mobile device, for a signal from a network; authorizing the mobile device to operate in a vicinity of the network when the signal is detected from the network; and inactivating the mobile device or displaying information where the mobile device can operate in response to a failure by the mobile device to detect the signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in tracking product consumption. Some embodiments provide a shopping facility management system comprising: an inventory database; a symbol database; a control circuit; and a memory storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify a first product physically at a shopping facility that is to be found within the shopping facility; obtain a unique identifier of the first product; access the symbol database; identify a first set of pictorial, non-alphanumeric symbols exclusively corresponding to the unique identifier; and communicate to the shopping facility worker the first set of symbols in association with an act to be performed corresponding to finding the first product such that the first product is visibly identifiable through a visual comparison of the first set of symbols to multiple different sets of symbols affixed to multiple different products within the shopping facility.