US 2008/0301009 A1 · METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING FULFILLMENT SERVICES

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing inventory fulfillment services to customers who have small quantities of heterogeneous items to sell. A self-service registration interface for generating lists of items to sell via the inventory fulfillment service is provided. The inventory fulfillment service may provide pricing suggestions to the customer. The inventory fulfillment service may determine whether a listed item satisfies one or more listing rules. Shipping information for a list of items may be automatically generated and provided to the customer. The customer may ship the items in one shipment to a specified facility. The customer is the seller of record for all items listed. The customer may not be charged for services until an item is sold. A listing period may be specified for which listed items will be carried. If an item does not sell within the period, option(s) for disposal of the item may be provided.

Claims48

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions;
and
one or more processors coupled to said memory, wherein said instructions are executable by at least one of said one or more processors to implement an inventory management system, wherein said inventory management system is configured to:
implement a fulfillment services registration interface;
receive, from a customer via said fulfillment services registration interface, a request to receive inventory fulfillment services from a fulfillment services provider for a sale of one or more of said customer's items;
in response to receiving said request, provide to said customer, via said fulfillment services registration interface, suggested pricing information for said one or more items;
determine whether said request to receive inventory fulfillment services for said one or more items satisfies one or more listing rules;
and
in response to determining that said request satisfies said one or more listing rules, provide to said customer, via said fulfillment services registration interface, information for conveying said one or more items to said fulfillment services provider.

6 more elements

A method, comprising:

a fulfillment services provider receiving, from a customer, a request to receive inventory fulfillment services from said fulfillment services provider for a sale of one or more of said customer's items, wherein said request is received via a computer-implemented fulfillment services registration interface;
in response to receiving said request, said fulfillment services provider providing to said customer, via said fulfillment services registration interface, suggested pricing information for said one or more items;
said fulfillment services provider determining whether said customer's request to receive inventory fulfillment services for said one or more items satisfies one or more listing rules;
and
in response to determining that said request satisfies said one or more listing rules, said fulfillment services provider providing to said customer, via said fulfillment services registration interface, information for conveying said one or more items to said fulfillment services provider.

2 more elements

A system, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions;
and
one or more processors coupled to said memory, wherein said instructions are executable by at least one of said one or more processors to implement an inventory management system, wherein said inventory management system is configured to:
implement a fulfillment services registration interface;
receive, from a customer via said fulfillment services registration interface, a request to receive inventory fulfillment services from a fulfillment services provider for a sale of one or more of said customer's items;
and
in response to receiving said request:
provide to said customer, via said fulfillment services registration interface, information for conveying said one or more items to said fulfillment services provider;
and
generate respective sales listings for said one or more items within one or more electronic commerce channels.

7 more elements

A system, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions;
and
one or more processors coupled to said memory, wherein said instructions are executable by at least one of said one or more processors to implement an inventory management system, wherein said inventory management system is configured to:
implement a fulfillment services registration interface;
receive, from a listing customer via said fulfillment services registration interface, a request to receive inventory fulfillment services from a fulfillment services provider for each of a plurality of said listing customer's items, wherein at least two of said plurality of items are heterogeneous;
and
in response to said request:
provide to said listing customer, via said fulfillment services registration interface information for conveying said plurality of items to said fulfillment services provider in a single package;
and
generate respective sales listings for each of said items within one or more electronic commerce channels.

7 more elements

A method, comprising:

a fulfillment services provider receiving, from a listing customer via a computer-implemented fulfillment services registration interface, a request to receive inventory fulfillment services from said fulfillment services provider for each of a plurality of said listing customer's items, wherein at least two of said plurality of items are heterogeneous;
and
in response to receiving said request, said fulfillment services provider:
providing to said listing customer, via said fulfillment services registration interface, information for conveying said plurality of items to said fulfillment services provider in a single package;
and
generating respective sales listings for each of said items within one or more electronic commerce channels.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for providing fulfillment services

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for providing fulfillment services

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48