Systems and methods of package container return

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a delivery management server, a return request notification indicating that a return is requested using a package container;
• based at least in part on receiving the return request notification and determining that a cover of the package container is in a closed state, storing a trial end time at the delivery management server;
• receiving, at the delivery management server, a return notification indicating arrival of the package container at a merchant location;
• in response to receiving the return notification, retrieving a package trial end time from the package container;
• and
• generating, at the delivery management server, an alert in response to determining that a difference between the trial end time and the package trial end time exceeds a trial end time threshold;
• and
• sending, to the package container, a lock command to activate a cover lock to keep the cover in the closed state, wherein the lock command is sent based at least in part on receipt of the return request notification and the determination that the cover of the package container is in the closed state.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

• receive a return request notification indicating that a return is requested using a package container;
• based at least in part on receipt of the return request notification and a determination that a cover of the package container is in a closed state, store a trial end time;
• receive a return notification indicating arrival of the package container at a merchant location;
• in response to receiving the return notification, retrieve a package trial end time from the package container;
• and
• generate an alert in response to determining that a difference between the trial end time and the package trial end time exceeds a trial end time threshold;
• and
• send, to the package container, a lock command to activate a cover lock to keep the cover in the closed state, wherein the lock command is sent based at least in part on receipt of the return request notification and the determination that the cover of the package container is in the closed state.