Abstract: Methods and systems for providing customer support in response to support communication are disclosed. Such communications may be structured or unstructured, and unstructured communications may be subject to further processing. A determination is made at least as to one or more relevant support classes, as well as to whether further support action(s) should be initiated. When determined that at least a further support action should be initiated, aspects of the support action may be determined and initiated.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for using item price data to assess whether particular item-to-item associations are useful for generating item recommendations. In one embodiment, the process involves generating a compatibility score that represents a degree to which the two items of an item-to-item mapping are compatible in price. This score may then be used to determine whether to use the item-to-item association as a basis for generating item recommendations.

Abstract: In accordance with a method for facilitating real-time product inquiries during online shopping, a request may be received from a potential buyer of a product for real-time inquiry about the product. In response, a previous customer of the product who has enrolled to participate in a real-time inquiry program may be identified. Real-time communication may be established with the previous customer.

Abstract: A facility for displaying consumption information about items is described. The facility uses a current consumption rank for each of a number of items and at least one or more previous consumption ranks for each of these items to attribute to at least a portion of the items a score characterizing the magnitude of increase in the consumption rank of the item. The facility then generates a display incorporating at least a portion of the attributed scores in the corresponding items.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for determining categories of items to include in a search results listing. Items to include in a search result listing are identified in response to a search request. The items are classified in multiple categories. A particular seller of multiple sellers is identified based at least in part on the search request. A subset of the categories is determined for which corresponding items are to be included in the search results listing. The subset is determined by applying one or more rules specified by the particular seller.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for monitoring the expiration date of items and determining if an item previously picked by a user will expire before the next anticipated arrival date of the user at a materials handling facility. If the previously picked item will expire before the next anticipated arrival date of the user, the user may receive a recommendation to pick a replacement item so they do not have to return to the materials handling facility early to replace the expired item.

Abstract: This document relates to tracking the adoption of a data feed. For example, a feed of items is sent to a referral network site. The feed includes some of the items sold through an electronic commerce network site. The referral network site refers a plurality of customers to the electronic commerce network site. The referral includes feed generation information. A determination is made whether the feed has been adopted by the referral network site based upon the feed generation information.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating classifications for items from normalized item attributes. Multiple attribute options are maintained for an item. Each of the attribute options is associated with a respective range of values on a normalized scale for an attribute. Multiple item classifications are generated for one of the attribute options by mapping the respective range of values for the one of the attribute options to one or more item classifications on each of multiple scales of classification for the attribute.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating bundle uniform resource locators (URL). A URL is generated that contains a parameter with a value corresponding to a product available in the electronic commerce system. At least one parameter with a value corresponding to configurable features of the product is also encoded in the URL. The URL parameters are validated to determine whether the product and configurable features are compatible.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for enhancing protection of privacy of purchaser contact details in connection with shipment of parcels. A shipping label can be generated that includes at least one contact detail that hides an actual contact detail associated with a purchaser. A carrier tasked to ship and/or deliver the product to an address designated by the purchaser can use the at least one contact detail to contact the purchaser. The attempts to contact the purchaser can be logged, and the contact details expired when no longer needed.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an electronic search interface to identify artisan sellers. A search query is received from a client. An electronic item database is then searched to identify items that are relevant to the search query. Two or more items may be offered by each of multiple sellers. A search result listing is generated that includes one item offered by each seller with a greatest display prominence. Other items offered by the sellers may be excluded or displayed with a lesser prominence.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating and updating recommendations for merchants. A plurality of recommendations for a plurality of merchants in an electronic marketplace are evaluated in at least one computing device for validity. An indication of which of the recommendations are valid is stored in a data store. It may be determined that one of the merchants has potentially invalidated one or more of the recommendations. The potentially invalidated recommendations for the merchant are evaluated for validity in response to a recommendation query for the merchant. A list of valid ones of the recommendations for the merchant is generated.

Abstract: A featured offer for an item in an electronic marketplace is selected based on factors such as estimated conversion rate and contribution profit. Qualified offers from various merchants are analyzed using a variety of filters, algorithms, and/or criteria to select an offer that meets the goal(s) of the marketplace provider, while providing customers with offers having terms that are also attractive to the customer. Secondary offers and/or advertisements also can be selected using similar approaches.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating user communities based on common interests. Users demonstrating a potential interest in a product and/or product class in an electronic commerce system are identified. A geographic location of each of the users can also be identified. The geographic area can be expanded or reduced so that the pool of users in a community meets minimum and/or maximum thresholds. An event can be created on behalf of the users in an establishment. An electronic forum can also be created. The users in a community can also be linked together in a social networking system.

Abstract: This document relates to classification of items included in a data feed. For example, a feed of items is generated for provision to a referral network site. The feed includes some of the items sold through an electronic commerce network site. Item classification information corresponding to an item sold through the electronic commerce network site is identified based upon the taxonomy information of the referral network site and included in the generated feed of items.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for suggesting item prices using item attributes specific to an item classification. One or more input values are received for a set of attributes corresponding to a selected item classification. A user interface is rendered that includes a suggested price range. The suggested price range is determined from a set of historical transaction prices for multiple items that are classified under the selected item classification and match the input value(s) for the set of attributes.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for adjusting prices of items in foreign marketplaces based on fluctuations in currency exchange rates. A deviation from a return sought by a merchant for an item offered in an electronic marketplace is determined. The deviation results from a change in an exchange rate between a first currency employed by the merchant and a second currency employed by the electronic marketplace. It is determined whether the deviation from the return meets a threshold. One or more actions in response to the deviation are implemented when the deviation from the return meets the threshold.

Abstract: A data representation of auctions in an online auction system and a bidding history associated with the auctions and the online auction system are maintained in a computer system for multiple users. A set of the users to whom to promote a selected auction is determined based at least in part on the bidding history. A message that promotes the selected auction is sent to each respective one of the set of the users. The message includes a control configured to open a web page that facilitates bidding in the selected auction through the online auction system.

Abstract: Data storage operation commands are digitally signed to enhance data security in a distributed system. A data storage client and a data storage node may share access to a cryptographic key. The data storage client uses the cryptographic key to digitally sign commands transmitted to the data storage node. The data storage node uses its copy of the cryptographic key to verify a digital signature of a command before fulfilling the command. The command may include a log of database transactions to process.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for monitoring the expiration date of items and determining if an item previously picked by a user will expire before the next anticipated arrival date of the user at a materials handling facility. If the previously picked item will expire before the next anticipated arrival date of the user, the user may receive a recommendation to pick a replacement item so they do not have to return to the materials handling facility early to replace the expired item.