Abstract: A method of calculating shipping costs due to a carrier in connection with customer returns of items shipped to the customer by merchant. A returns center receives shipping due packages containing returned items. Affixed to each package is a printed label, the label having machine readable manifesting data, representing at least a package identifier, the origin of the package, the a delivery location. The manifesting data is scanned and the package is weighed. Data collected from the scanning and weighing steps is delivered to a processing system, which calculates shipping costs and generates a manifest report.

Abstract: A method that facilitates customer returns of merchandise by generating return labels that integrate a carrier-compliant format and return processing data on the same label. A return label generating process accesses data about an item to be returned, the customer, the package in which it is expected to be shipped, and the transaction associated with the item. The process evaluates this data in view of stored merchant rules, to determine how the package will be shipped. It then generates a label whose coding and format ensure that the package will be handled in this manner.

Abstract: A method of providing returnable customer items, originally purchased from a merchant. The merchant provides the customer with a special returns label that permits the customer to drop the return package with a carrier without paying shipping charges to the carrier. The label includes an integrated machine readable code, which permits a returns center to easily assess shipping charges and perform other services related to the return.

Abstract: A method of calculating shipping costs due to a carrier in connection with customer returns of items shipped to the customer by merchant. A returns center receives shipping due packages containing returned items. Affixed to each package is a printed label, the label having machine readable manifesting data, representing at least a package identifier, the origin of the package, the a delivery location. The manifesting data is scanned and the package is weighed. Data collected from the scanning and weighing steps is delivered to a processing system, which calculates shipping costs and generates a manifest report.

Abstract: A method that facilitates customer returns of merchandise. The method makes use of a distributed system of returns centers. Customer returns are made using machine readable return labels. The labels are addressed so that they are initially shipped to a returns center closest to the customer, thereby enabling “reverse zone skipping”. The labels also identify the package, such as by invoice number. Once a package is received at the returns center, the label is scanned into a processing system that also stores various returns “rules”, including rules for dispositioning returns.

Abstract: A method that facilitates customer returns of merchandise. The method makes use of a distributed system of returns centers. Customer returns are made using special machine readable return labels. The labels are addressed so that they are initially shipped to a returns center closest to the customer, thereby enabling “reverse zone skipping”. The labels also identify the package, such as by invoice number. Once a package is received at the returns center, the label is scanned into a processing system that also stores various returns “rules”, including rules for notifying the merchant and/or the returnee and for other data communications.