Method and system providing out-sourced, merchandise return services, and exchange and escrow services

摘要

A secured exchange method provides a prospective buyer with a chance to inspect the goods of a remote seller as a condition precedent to acceptance. The method is implemented by a distributed community of intermediary point-of-access associates who physically host such inspections, as well as by a managing inspection-transaction information service. The seller delivers the goods to one of the point-of-access associates, who in turn ships to another point-of-access associate, which is where the prospective buyer will inspect. There the prospective buyer gets the opportunity to inspect the offered goods and, upon buyer's application to accept, that particular point-of-access associate accesses the pertinent terms of acceptance from the managing inspection-transaction information service. If the pertinent terms of acceptance are met, the point-of-access associate releases the goods to the buyer.