Systems and methods for managing returns or exchanges made via a computer network

A method for allowing a user to manage at least one of a return or exchange of an ordered item, comprising:

• hosting an electronic database of information regarding item purchases;
• providing a user interface comprising user interface elements for allowing a user to specify an item which is to be at least one of returned to or exchanged at a physical location, wherein the user interface provides the user the ability to provide identifying information regarding at least one of the user or the item;
• receiving the identifying information from the user interface;
• matching the identifying information with information in the database;
• performing an authorization verification against at least one of a predefined accounting or policy rule to provide authorization for the return or exchange of the item;
• providing to the user an identifier to identify the authorization;
• receiving at the physical location the item and the identifier;
• and
• accepting the item, wherein the steps of receiving the item and accepting the item are performed within a predefined time limit.

A computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions perform steps for allowing a user to manage at least one of a return or exchange of at least one item, comprising:

• hosting a database of information regarding item purchases;
• providing a user interface comprising user interface elements for allowing a user to specify at least one of the at least one item which is to be at least one of returned to or exchanged at a physical location, wherein the user interface provides the user the ability to provide identifying information regarding at least one of the user or the at least one of the at least one item, and wherein the user interface further provides the user the ability to at least one schedule or estimate a time for conducting the return or exchange;
• receiving the identifying information from the user interface;
• matching the identifying information with information in the database;
• performing an authorization verification against at least one of a predefined accounting or policy rule to provide authorization for the return or exchange of the item;
• providing to the user an identifier reflective of the authorization;
• receiving at the physical location the item, the identifier and the at least one of the scheduled or estimated time for conducting the return or exchange;
• and
• accepting the item, wherein the steps of receiving the item and accepting the item are performed at the scheduled or estimated time for conducting the return or exchange.