Abstract: A pickup location is enabled to operate when communication over a network is not available by preemptively synchronizing certain data. For the delivery of an item, an access code that will be used by the user for retrieving the item from a storage compartment at the pickup location may be generated and synchronized between the pickup location and a remote computing resource before the item is delivered. Once the item is delivered to the pickup location, the access code is activated so that it can be used by the user for retrieving the item from the storage compartment.

Abstract: Content such as a customized advertisement or message may be presented to a user at a pickup location. The content may be presented utilizing an audiovisual or other device of the pickup location, or on a user's mobile device when the user arrives at the pickup location. An advertisement that is presented to the user may be selected based on factors such as past purchases made by the user, a current item in an order or an item available for purchase in a store that is near the pickup location. A message that is presented to the user may be from a gift purchaser who ordered an item for the user, a manufacturer or vendor of an item, or the user with a reminder for a task that is to be performed when the user is at the pickup location.

Abstract: Pickup location operations may be performed based on trusted user feedback. For example, a user may provide feedback that an ordered item at a pickup location is missing or damaged, in response to which a refund or replacement may be issued. Feedback may also be provided to indicate that a malfunction is occurring at the pickup location, in response to which the malfunctioning equipment may be disabled and a repair request may be made. Feedback may also be provided to indicate that a scheduled time period for a user to retrieve an item from the pickup location needs to be changed, in response to which an alternative time period may be selected.

Abstract: A pickup location may be enabled to continue to operate when communication over a network is not available. When communication is not available, a pickup location may not be able to send a confirmation that a user has dropped off an item for a return or to send a request to have the item retrieved by a carrier. The pickup location may be enabled to assign a stored access code that was previously sent to a carrier and which will allow the item to be retrieved by the carrier who has arrived at the pickup location for reasons other than a request to retrieve the item. A retrieval confirmation from the carrier may be utilized to allow a refund or replacement process to be initiated, and to update capacity information for the pickup location, if the carrier meets a certain confidence threshold requirement based on past performance.

Abstract: A pickup location may be enabled to continue to operate when communication over a network is not available by preemptively synchronizing certain data. For the delivery of an item, order data such as the expected tracking identification for an item may be sent to the pickup location before the item is delivered. An access code that will be used by the user for retrieving the item from a storage compartment at the pickup location may also be generated and synchronized between the pickup location and a remote computing resource before the item is delivered. A delivery of an item as confirmed by a carrier may be reported to a user when communication with the pickup location is unavailable if the carrier meets a certain confidence threshold requirement based on past performance.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a return request may be provided. For example, a user may want to return an item that the user received from an item provider via an electronic marketplace. The user can take a picture of the item and transmit the image to a computer that determines that the user would like to return the item. The computer may also determine that the item is returnable (e.g., was provided to the user within an allowable timeframe, satisfies a constraint for returning the item). The computer can initiate a return of the item. In some examples, the computer can also determine a convenient return location or the reason that the user is returning the item to the item provider.