Electronic registration system for product transactions

Abstract

An electronic registration system which facilitates authorized product returns and reduces the incidence of improper returns. A retailer sales associate is prompted to enter individual product identification information such as an individual serial number. This individual product identification information is then stored in a data base along with the date on which the product was sold and an appropriate UPC code, SKU number or manufacturer code. A check digit algorithm may be used to verify the serial number prior to storage. A sales receipt may be imprinted with at least the date of the transaction and the serial number. When a product is returned, the retailer may cross-reference the serial number on the product with that on the receipt to verify the sales receipt. Otherwise, the database may be searched for pertinent sales information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for registering product transactions, the method comprising for each product associated with a respective transaction at a transaction location:
 obtaining, at the transaction location, identification information that identifies the respective product involved in the respective product transaction;   identifying a type of the respective product involved in the respective transaction;   determining whether product registration should be attempted based on the identified type of the respective product; and   when it is determined that product registration should be attempted:
 storing in a local transaction database said identification information and additional information including at least the date of the respective transaction, 
 creating a transaction receipt that includes at least some of said individual product identification information and said date of transaction, and 
 communicating said individual product identification information and said date of the transaction to a remote location for inclusion in general transaction database.