Abstract: There are provided systems and methods relating to regulating merchandise received at distribution centers. In one form, the system includes: a distribution center for storing various types of merchandise, and purchase orders for projected incoming merchandise to be delivered on projected delivery dates from vendors to the distribution center. The system also includes a control circuit configured to: receive a merchandise capacity limit for one or more storage areas for a future target date; determine a projected amount of merchandise present at the storage area(s) for the future target date; compare the projected amount of merchandise to the merchandise capacity limit; if the projected amount of merchandise does not exceed the limit, transmit the purchase orders to the corresponding vendors; and if the projected amount of merchandise exceeds the limit, apply prioritization criteria to adjust some of the purchase orders and defer the projected delivery dates for those purchase orders.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to determining a disposition path for a returned item. In some embodiments, a system comprises a database including item-specific data for a plurality of items and customer data for a plurality of customers, a control circuit configured to determine a suggested disposition path for each of the items, transmit the suggested disposition path for each of the plurality of items, and a user device configured to receive, from a user, a return initiation including an indication of an item and a customer, and transmit the return initiation, wherein the control circuit is further configured to receive the return initiation, determine a trust score for the customer, determine a suggested disposition path for the item, determine, based on the trust score and the suggested disposition path, a disposition path for the item, and transmit an indication of the disposition.