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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

#21

Post by inferiorhuman »

sswezey wrote: post #9
inferiorhuman wrote: post #3

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…

The app may not have it, but Amazon's retail site has these kinds of filters for bolts: https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D1729002...

I was actually looking at their desktop site. The filters you listed are still mediocre at best. Amazon simply doesn't get search.

Example:

Materials: Alloy Steel, Brass, Carbon Steel, Galvanized Steel, Nylon, Plastic, Stainless Steel, Stainless Steel 18-8 (AZ), Stainless Steel 304, Stainless Steel 316 (A4), Steel, Zinc.

Now, I'm pretty sure you're not going to find fasteners made of pure zinc (typically that's an anti-corrosion coating on a steel fastener). You've also got needlessly vague terms like "alloy steel" and "stainless steel" in that list.

System of (hey they lowercase the of this time) Measurement: Inch, Metric, Number Gauge (wtf?), Wire Gauge. Wire Gauge. On a bolt? Ehhhh.

Do you want the square head bolt category? Square head style filter? External square drive style filter? What if I'm looking for fasteners for a non industrial or scientific use?

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

#22

Post by blt »

inferiorhuman wrote: post #3

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…

Every web designer should be required to study McMaster-Carr's interface. It's so much better than any other e-commerce site, it feels like alien technology from the future.

Of course, the irony is that it could be replicated with 1998-era web technology. The difference is all in human effort and choosing the correct priorities.

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

#23

Post by NeedMoreTea »

inferiorhuman wrote: post #21
sswezey wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The app may not have it, but Amazon's retail site has these kinds of filters for bolts: https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D1729002...

I was actually looking at their desktop site. The filters you listed are still mediocre at best. Amazon simply doesn't get search. Example: Materials: Alloy Steel, Brass, Carbon Steel, Galvanized Steel, Nylon, Plastic, Stainless Steel, Stainless Steel 18-8 (AZ), Stainless Steel 304, Stainless Steel 316 (A4), Steel, Zinc. Now, I'm pretty sure you're not going to find fasteners made of pure zinc (typically that's an an…

LOL Galvanised Steel and Zinc separately? I wonder what they believe the difference is.

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

#24

Post by guntars »

It didn’t work for me. It’s one of those things that would be awesome if it worked with a human or better level accuracy, but they never do. Now I’ve wasted a few minutes looking for a penny and good lighting to take a picture - I could have just used the calipers to measure the bolt in the first place.

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

#25

Post by scabarott »

inferiorhuman wrote: post #3

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…

Ironically, the founder of partpic, the acqui-hire on which this technology is based used to work for Mcmaster-Carr and started partpic as a result of customers' frustrations with McMaster's search functions. Perhaps they're aiming this product at more casual, less exacting retail customers who'll settle for only an approximate match in exchange for the convenience of snapping a quick pic. It's a shame though if they can cater to all types of customers by improving their search function.

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

#26

Post by sokoloff »

stevenicr wrote: post #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…

For new parts, get used to RockAuto.com. Most things I buy there arrive by ground the next day (to MA from a local warehouse) or 2 days. 5% discount codes available just for the 3 minutes of googling. They have "cheap crap" parts as well as quality parts, so be thoughtful about your choice. The good parts are good (OEM is often available) and very competitively priced, with excellent search, and good logistics.

For used parts, there are a couple of online junkyards, but I've found the best plan is to find your local pick-a-parts and figure out which ones will pull parts for you. Most will in my experience, though if you go pick it yourself, you're likely to get it for far cheaper. The one in the town I grew up in had a Friday promotion where anything you could carry 50 feet was $25 (in the late 80s, probably $50 now). You could pull a transmission and get it for $50. You could pull a car hood and pile a bunch of small parts onto it and take that all for one price. The pick-a-part in the NH town I moved to after college had a basic computer system and a network of other yards they worked with. Ebay is another good outlet for some of these yards (with the associated markup). I've replaced a few parts on my wife's CR-V with Ebay junkyard parts with good results.

Even though it's annoying to pay a $1500 repair bill on an old car, if that buys you another year of service for the car, it's still a great financial trade. I do almost all my own work (no bodywork, paint, or tires and limited exhaust work) and find the price of parts quite reasonable.

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

#27

Post by teh_klev »

Well done TechCrunch, another US website that has a bullshit policy where you can't opt out of all their third party tracking and data sharing with "Foundation Partners", just piss off.

Guess there's no more TechCrunch for me. Mind you, no great loss.

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

#28

Post by JMiao »

JeremyHerrman wrote: post #14
lgleason wrote: 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.

"he boomed me" - lgleason

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

#29

Post by phakding »

I haven't used it, but hopefully it works. I work a ton on my car and many times, I used to run to a specialty sears hardware store which had four long isles full of screws, nuts and bolts. I have spent literally hours browing for screws and nut/bolts. Unfortunately the store closed last year and I have nowhere else to go.

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

#30

Post by inferiorhuman »

scabarott wrote: post #25
inferiorhuman wrote: post #3

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…

Ironically, the founder of partpic, the acqui-hire on which this technology is based used to work for Mcmaster-Carr and started partpic as a result of customers' frustrations with McMaster's search functions. Perhaps they're aiming this product at more casual, less exacting retail customers who'll settle for only an approximate match in exchange for the convenience of snapping a quick pic. It's a shame though if they…

I've had two frustrations with the McMaster-Carr site:

1.) It's slow

2.) It's hard to generate a permalink

So far Amazon hasn't even come close and this wanky bit of tech doesn't change that.

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