Initial Idea Presentation for CS410

Instant Receipt Tracker Online Database

Fall 2009

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Outline Introduction Problem Statement Customer Current Return Policies Solution Solution Process Diagram Competition Hardware/Software Benefits Potential Problems References

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Introduction

Computer Science Major Graduating in May 2010 Currently working as a government

civilian for SPAWAR– Supporting Next Generation Enterprise

Network (NGEN)

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Problem Statement Consumers usually purchase products

without the intent of having to return them. Thus, causing them to discard of the receipt.

However, sometimes products need to be returned (i.e. clothes not fitting properly, malfunctioning equipment, etc.).

In some cases, receipts are required to return a product. Therefore, if you don’t have the receipt, you are stuck with a product that you do not want.

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Customer

Any consumer, currently possessing a credit/debit card, that wishes to automatically retain copies of receipts

For example, this would include frequent shoppers of Overstock.com, Target, Wal-Mart and Best Buy, etc.

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Current Return Policies Overstock.com

– “up to a 30% restocking fee for some open, used, or late items” 1

Target– “technically offers no returns without a receipt, but has an

undisclosed policy of allowing a limited number” 1

– 90 days from purchase 2

Wal-Mart – 90 days from purchase 2

Best Buy 3

– 14 days for computers, monitors, projectors, camcorders, digital cameras, and radar detectors

– 30 days for all other products– in some instances, a restocking fee applies

1 http://www.consumerworld.org/pages/returns.htm2 http://www.mouseprint.org/2007/12/24/retailers-return-policies-the-2007-fine-print/3 http://www.bestbuy.com/olspage.jsp?type=page&contentId=1117177044087&id=cat12098

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Solution Utilize credit card machines that are currently

in place at retail stores When a consumer purchases products with a

credit/debit card, the information on the receipt for the transaction would automatically be stored in a online database

Consumers would subscribe to this database, thus having the receipt information readily available

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Solution Process Diagram

Consumer makes a purchase Purchase information is sent to bank

Bank processes information and stores receipt information in an online database

Consumer is able to view receipt information using a web interface

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Competition

Handheld receipt scanner– Allows you to scan receipts easily

Pro – do-it-yourself tool Con – not as instantaneous or readily

available as the Instant Receipt Tracker Online Database

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Hardware/Software Utilize existing credit card machines in

retail stores Database to store receipt information Web interface for consumer access Anticipated Cost:

– ~$10K• This includes initially designing and building the

database and web interface for consumer access

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Benefits Instantaneous recording and storing of

receipt information Easily accessible via a web interface No more losing receipts Able to return items even though you

don’t have a hard-copy of the receipt Essentially – more money in your

pocket

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Potential Problems

Businesses may not want to support the bank offering a service that may potentially decrease their revenue.– Example: If customers actually use this

product, they will always have a means to return an item. Whereas, if they didn’t have this product and lost their receipt, the business would benefit.

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References1 http://www.consumerworld.org/pages/returns.htm2 http://www.mouseprint.org/2007/12/24/retailers-return-

policies-the-2007-fine-print/3http://www.bestbuy.com/olspage.jsp?

type=page&contentId=1117177044087&id=cat12098