In this Nov. 11, 2010 photo, Leacroft Green places a …

Ross D. Franklin | published: December 29, 2010

In this Nov. 11, 2010 photo, Leacroft Green places a package to the correct shipping area at an Amazon.com fulfillment center, in Goodyear, Ariz. Amazon.com, the source of many presents good, bad or ugly, has patented a system that would let people exchange unwanted gifts for those they want before anything is actually shipped. For now, though, it's just a patent, so until Amazon figures out how to implement it, you may be stuck with that itchy sweater from grandma.