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Amazon launches Part Finder, using technology acquired from Partpic in 2016

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Re: Amazon launches Part Finder, using technology acquired from Partpic in 2016

#11
Amazon launches part print in 2019. Take a picture or use the amazon ODB connect app and have your new parts printed locally and delivered within hours. Optionally have it professionally installed and recycled to make future parts cheaper. /daydream

So many need this. The cost of parts is outrageous. I remember reading some settlements where international part manufacturers were caught price fixing, but have not seen any relief in costs.

If it's emissions related they know you'll pay or many places won't let you register your car.

The cost of repairs has made it so I will never purchase an Infinity vehicle again. The cost of parts has me asking how many O2 sensors a car has in it before I consider it for buying. (that this is an expensive issue is imho dumb)

Local repair shop owner on radio show says they need to markup parts by 30% in order to pay for rent and insurance on the shops, and they need to markup the labor 30% to stay in business. So the only way for those repair shops to stay in business is to charge people more than their vehicle is worth to fix them, and depends on cities forcing emissions tests to make it impossible to drive without replacing expensive parts.

This isn't working well, though I suppose it is helping to sell new cars at the expense of the environment and those who are fine with upcycling older vehicles.

There has got to be a way to bring down the cost of replacement parts.

Are there any initiatives to have standard fit parts they fit multiple vehicles like generic drugs? I'd weigh that in the decision to buy a new car and it would affect the used car market well too.

Catalytic converter for one of my vehicles is $1800 they say, and it should be assumed that although check engine light is warning about one being bad, the second in the car is bound to need replacing very soon as well. Those two parts cost more then the vehicle is worth kelly blue book and such.

Also, is anyone doing a user part runner / grabber service? I contacted several scrap places requesting they pull and send parts from cars they had listed, none replied. Is it only an option to go there and get the part off the other vehicle in person? This process could be better, I'd pay a runner to grab some parts from a few cars.

Oh I hope Amazon continues to disrupt in this space.

Re: Amazon launches Part Finder, using technology acquired from Partpic in 2016

#12
post #7

Partpic was founded by two non tech founders and Amanzon aqui hired them. Not sure what technology they are brining to the table there.....and of course the buyout was for a non disclosed amount... Typical Atlanta.

Built by 'non tech' founders?

So was Airbnb, Product Hunt (acq by Angel List) and a little dating app you may have heard of called Tinder...

I actually know the founders of this company. Super smart, tons of hustle and product focused.

What does 'typical Atlanta' mean, btw?

Re: Amazon launches Part Finder, using technology acquired from Partpic in 2016

#13
post #7

Partpic was founded by two non tech founders and Amanzon aqui hired them. Not sure what technology they are brining to the table there.....and of course the buyout was for a non disclosed amount... Typical Atlanta.

I met one of PartPic’s founders at a mutual friend’s wedding last year. Sure, maybe he wasn’t a coder, but darn was he was smart. Before I founded my latest startup I built a “skunkworks” style startup in a larger public company after being acquihired. Have to be honest, the hardest part was navigating the parent org, not building the product. PartPic’s founder and I had a super interesting conversation about getting bigger companies to actually care about your internal project. The fact they even got this to a launch is impressive.

Re: Amazon launches Part Finder, using technology acquired from Partpic in 2016

#14
post #7

Partpic was founded by two non tech founders and Amanzon aqui hired them. Not sure what technology they are brining to the table there.....and of course the buyout was for a non disclosed amount... Typical Atlanta.

Dismissing others' success, minimizing the importance of non-technical founders (vision/recruiting/deal-closing), downplaying well-executed technology (computer vision work by https://twitter.com/nashlie_s), and a dismissive arrogant tone... Typical HN commenter.

Re: Amazon launches Part Finder, using technology acquired from Partpic in 2016

#15
post #5

While I don't want to be too presumptuous and say this is going to fail, it is definitely not going to defeat Fastenal or McMaster-Carr. Really, it comes down whether it's a generic part, or specifically engineered for a larger assembly. If it's the former, it's going to be significantly easier to use a website like McMaster-Carr where every item is completely organized into a hierarchy. You can quickly drill down an…

There are two questions: one whether taking a picture and getting a part to buy would be a desirable workflow for customers - and jeesh, it should be obvious that it would be. The other question is whether the process would work. That's a matter of tech, resolution of cameras and the design of the interface. It's easy to imagine the system displaying multiple options for things like the two nearly identical bolts. As this evolves, the system could even offer the means to distinguish the various options ("count the threads", "take a close-up" etc). And point is something like this could keep improving, both in accuracy and the range of items involved where a hierarchical organization is inherently static.

Re: Amazon launches Part Finder, using technology acquired from Partpic in 2016

#16

I remember when Amazon bought CDNow ages ago. CDNow let me easily find specific CDs by artist and title AND they even had a great recommendation algorithm. I discovered some great new music that way. In 2002 Amazon shut down CDNow with the idea that you'd just use Amazon.com. Unfortunately, search has been one of Amazon's weakest features. Sixteen years later and I still miss CDNow. Amazon rarely shows exactly what I…

Oh man don't even get me started on trying to find SAE sizes of things on Amazon. Searching for something like a #8x1/4 inch screw is a total crap shoot. Even eBay does a better job by far.

Re: Amazon launches Part Finder, using technology acquired from Partpic in 2016

#17
Is there really much profit from selling a $.10 screw that the average person might need once or twice a year when they buy some unassembled product that is missing parts? I assume people who would buy bulk don't need an app to tell them what to buy. Or do they charge an insane markup for these one-offs?

Personally, I love an excuse to go to an old fashioned Ace Hardware store and ask a real person for help.

Re: Amazon launches Part Finder, using technology acquired from Partpic in 2016

#18

From what I understand they are now competing with Granger in the Industrial market. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-09-11/amazon-am... And now they are getting into Fastenals market it seems, which is a billion dollar industry. https://www.fastenal.com/ I was just recently trying to figure out where to get that little square clip that slides onto the gas cylinder on my Aeron chair to keep the rod from c…

Grainger has many things in their favor, here's hoping they can fend off Amazon. * Better search and organization of inventory * Mail order discount arm (Zoro) * Brick and mortar presence as well as the logistics to handle this. * Clear labeling of certifications and country of origin compared to Amazon's persistent problems with counterfeits and that whole mess with third party sellers. About the only place I'd expe…

About the only place I'd expect Amazon to be able to compete is on logistics.

Well, there's price too. Every time I look at Grainger I'm reminded how desperately their items must be needed right NOW in order for a customer to justify the price.

McMaster is worth it because the prices aren't quite as high and the site is so delightful to use.

Re: Amazon launches Part Finder, using technology acquired from Partpic in 2016

#19
post #7

Partpic was founded by two non tech founders and Amanzon aqui hired them. Not sure what technology they are brining to the table there.....and of course the buyout was for a non disclosed amount... Typical Atlanta.

Dismissing others' success, minimizing the importance of non-technical founders (vision/recruiting/deal-closing), downplaying well-executed technology (computer vision work by https://twitter.com/nashlie_s ), and a dismissive arrogant tone... Typical HN commenter.

Well said! Total respect for her accomplishment.

Re: Amazon launches Part Finder, using technology acquired from Partpic in 2016

#20
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Grainger has many things in their favor, here's hoping they can fend off Amazon. * Better search and organization of inventory * Mail order discount arm (Zoro) * Brick and mortar presence as well as the logistics to handle this. * Clear labeling of certifications and country of origin compared to Amazon's persistent problems with counterfeits and that whole mess with third party sellers. About the only place I'd expe…

About the only place I'd expect Amazon to be able to compete is on logistics. Well, there's price too. Every time I look at Grainger I'm reminded how desperately their items must be needed right NOW in order for a customer to justify the price. McMaster is worth it because the prices aren't quite as high and the site is so delightful to use.

> Well, there's price too. Every time I look at Grainger I'm reminded how desperately their items must be needed right NOW in order for a customer to justify the price.

Their discount subsidiary, Zoro, offers prices that are quite competitive. Likewise Grainger offers hefty discounts to their volume (a.k.a. business) customers. Amazon is really not all that cheap.

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