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Amazon Parts Knowledgebase [message #296345] Sun, 28 February 2016 10:52 Go to next message
rcjordan   United States
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
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TL;DR: Send me the Amazon parts/tools/accessories you or a 'Repected Other' has researched and used.

Over the last 3 years, I've seen a huge increase in using Ebay & Amazon for parts, tools, and rv accessories sourcing. I don't see how Loffen gets anything done, he must stay in ebay around the clock, heh! I'm almost as bad as Loffen, except I'm on Amazon. I've done several vehicle projects lately -GMCmh, Sprinter, Honda Fit- using Amazon. Several others on FB and here apparently do the same, based on their posts. I'm also getting a lot of requests for "how did you do that" after rallies or posts on FB, 95% (maybe more) of which I sourced on AMZ.

If everyone that has asked for parts sourcing keeps waiting for me to compose a list, well ...LEDs and such might be obsolete by the time I get a roundtuit. Others, who happen to know that I used to build and run a substantial network of websites, keep asking me to "put it on the web." That ain't likely to happen, either. I'm burned out. **IF** I build a web page, it needs to be with 2 or 3 clicks and maybe a quick cut-n-paste of some text. Oh, and zero database management.

Still, I tinker with web development because {a} I like to program and {b} I still consult with web businesses (that won't let me retire). All of the above was to get to this: I've cludged together a rough hack of my old Amazon Associates site and I can now build crappy-looking pages of (just) Amazon items in 2 clicks and separate them by category (Tools, Drivetrain, Exterior, etc). Over the past couple of days, I've built a "People Or Manufacturers I Trust" catalog of past purchases by several people who wanted to contribute to the knowledgebase. "Trust" is too strong a word for manufacturers but they tend to float to the top when researching a project. Atwood, for example. I can even assemble a section of specific parts used in a project.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Amz will not let me use their servers and software unless the site eventually sells something. If it sells something, I make a laughably-low commission. I also fully understand concerns about spamming. I don't need the beer money that badly.

Thoughts?


SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC

[Updated on: Sun, 28 February 2016 10:59]

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Re: Amazon Parts Knowledgebase [message #296347 is a reply to message #296345] Sun, 28 February 2016 11:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rcjordan   United States
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
Senior Member
I should have added that there is no personal information shared by Amazon. I just get to see an excel-like, combined chart of all items clicked or purchased/returned. There are already enough friends using this that it's a mixed jumble of stuff.

SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
Re: Amazon Parts Knowledgebase [message #296355 is a reply to message #296347] Sun, 28 February 2016 16:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
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Robert,

Did you notice that you published this in Sandbox?

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: Amazon Parts Knowledgebase [message #296356 is a reply to message #296345] Sun, 28 February 2016 17:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rcjordan   United States
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Absolutely, Matt, quiet down here. So what do you think?

Here's the LED valance light "parts kit" that got me thinking

http://astore.amazon.com/4geeks00-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=2


SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
Re: Amazon Parts Knowledgebase [message #296364 is a reply to message #296345] Sun, 28 February 2016 19:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bdub is currently offline  bdub   United States
Messages: 1578
Registered: February 2004
Location: Central Texas
Karma: 5
Senior Member

So, these are parts that you have bought or investigated?
Is it your thoughts as the first text beneath the product information?
Can other folks contribute to the page?
Really neat how you gather all this data.
Smile
bdub


bdub
'76 Palm Beach/Central Texas
www.bdub.net
www.gmcmhphotos.com
www.gmcmotorhomemarketplace.com
www.gmcmhregistry.com
www.facebook.com/groups/classicgmcmotorhomes
www.facebook.com/groups/gmcmm
Re: Amazon Parts Knowledgebase [message #296369 is a reply to message #296345] Sun, 28 February 2016 19:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rcjordan   United States
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Currently, 97% of it is based on a couple of known-to-me order histories I had permission to access. 1% is from a contributor who wants to build the knowledgebase (for tools, not GMCs). And another 2% was pulled in from searching your FB site. Third-party stuff is vetted (that's pretty easy if the person has a good track record. I don't go fact-checking Ken H, for instance), but Amazon's own review system really does that, too.

Yes, I'm able to insert a blurb under the item as I click it into the Amazon database.

I'm hoping others will contribute directly. Just a link and a quick comment as to why you can't live without it is all it takes.

It's really working already, I can sweep in anything that someone posts or I find by research in -literally- 2 clicks. Note, too that the catalog isn't just vehicle-related. But I doubt I'll get into many more categories.

The issue, though, (and why I'm down here in the basement) is how to use it properly when someone asks. For example, I've had more than a few requests for links to that battery jumpbox I posted a year ago. That thing was the devil to find in my order history. Another hot one now is that 4" round LED. Now I -or anyone else- could just point them to the public site, to the fixture itself but more likely just tell them it's in the LED directory.

Here's that 4" fixture with my notes, for example
http://astore.amazon.com/4geeks00-20/detail/B00UTCQJ3Q

A BIG bonus with Amazon (besides them providing the database management. I HATE database management!) is that they give me a tool to automatically sweep out dead, or no longer available items.


SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
Re: Amazon Parts Knowledgebase [message #296375 is a reply to message #296369] Sun, 28 February 2016 20:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bdub is currently offline  bdub   United States
Messages: 1578
Registered: February 2004
Location: Central Texas
Karma: 5
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So this page is only for Amazon deals? It oughta be useful.

bdub
'76 Palm Beach/Central Texas
www.bdub.net
www.gmcmhphotos.com
www.gmcmotorhomemarketplace.com
www.gmcmhregistry.com
www.facebook.com/groups/classicgmcmotorhomes
www.facebook.com/groups/gmcmm
Re: Amazon Parts Knowledgebase [message #296377 is a reply to message #296345] Sun, 28 February 2016 20:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rcjordan   United States
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Pretty much anything that's in Amazon, except a few items that are corrupted in their database. I think they exclude some types, like music or maybe apps, but I haven't run across any products yet. Note: I **CAN** exclude their adult items from the "Similar Item" side widget they put on the site. Otherwise, that could get interesting when you get to the Plumbing section with nipples and ballcocks listed, hhh.

SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
Re: Amazon Parts Knowledgebase [message #296380 is a reply to message #296345] Sun, 28 February 2016 21:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rcjordan   United States
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
Senior Member
<added>

You never know how people will (or will not) use a resource, but I'm envisioning something along the lines of how Gene makes his "Read here" posts

Q: Remember that Ramco mirror alternative someone posted here a few months ago? Where'd they get it?

A: Rydertrucks, I believe. It's also listed in the Amazon catalog here:
http://astore.amazon.com/4geeks00-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=31



SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
Re: Amazon Parts Knowledgebase [message #296387 is a reply to message #296345] Sun, 28 February 2016 23:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rcjordan   United States
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
Senior Member
<added2>
Heh! Just playing around, I pulled in the current 100 Best Sellers in RV Parts & Accessories. If you remove all the air-fresheners, dehumidifiers, and hammocks there's almost nothing left.

http://astore.amazon.com/4geeks00-20?node=44



SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC

[Updated on: Tue, 01 March 2016 06:53]

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Re: Amazon Parts Knowledgebase [message #297823 is a reply to message #296345] Tue, 22 March 2016 08:38 Go to previous message
rcjordan   United States
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
Senior Member
I'm not sure if I covered it above, but Amazon makes daily scans of my re-organized/reskinned version of their stuff and automagically removes any that are no longer available. That's a HUGE feature for the admin!!

SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
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