Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for selecting a subset of categories of product items to be used in merchandising. The subset of categories may be selected on a basis of a measured level of interest in the product items. Based on the subset of subcategories that have been selected, merchandising presentations may be automatically formulated and presented to a customer.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a node selection application. Utility nodes are selected from a taxonomy according to utility scores with respect to a search query. Relevant nodes are selected from the taxonomy according to relevance scores with respect to the search query. A collection of taxonomy nodes is recommended according to a convergence between the utility nodes and the relevant nodes.

Abstract: An image of an item is obtained in one or more computing devices. The item is identified from the image based at least in part on data derived from reference images that are each associated with one or more items. Catalog data corresponding to the item is associated with the image. The catalog data is added to a merchant catalog in an electronic marketplace.

Abstract: A server creates a schedule for each of multiple user devices based on a set of items associated with a corresponding user device, and allows each user device to obtain associated items in accordance with the schedule.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for using contributor-provided attributes in conjunction with an electronic item catalog. A computer reconciles a plurality of attributes for an item in an electronic catalog using feedback data related to the item. Each of the attributes is provided by one of a plurality of merchants. The reconciled attribute of the item is updated in the electronic catalog.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs that facilitate reducing purchase hesitance. At least one product offered by a seller at an initial price is displayed to a buyer. Activity of the buyer throughout an electronic commerce system is tracked. Purchase hesitance in the activity is identified. A concession is offered to the buyer by the seller to provide incentive to the buyer to purchase the product within the electronic commerce system.

Abstract: Various computer-implemented services are disclosed for assisting users in selecting items from an electronic catalog, and for selecting merchants with which to conduct transactions. One such service enables users to share information about their respective purchases with other users. Another service enables users to share information regarding the merchants with which they have conducted transactions.

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 dynamically generating a network site for a topic. A set of search terms that are associated with one or more search engines are obtained. A respective set of items in an item catalog that are relevant for each of the search terms are identified. A respective network site is established for each of the search terms when the respective set of items includes at least a predefined number of items. The respective network site offers at least some of the respective items for sale.

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: A tools management module of an electronic marketplace may be provided to analyze tool use information for previous and existing users of the electronic marketplace. In some examples, the user information may characterize the action of the previous and existing users with respect to one or more tools. Based at least in part on the analyzed information, the tools management module may be configured to predict relevant tools for new users of the electronic marketplace and to also predict relevant users for new tools of the electronic marketplace.

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 determining categories of items to include in a search results page. Representative is a system comprising at least one computing device with a search engine and a network page build process that are executable therein. The search engine identifies a plurality of items to display in a network page in response to a request for search, wherein the items are classified in a plurality of categories. The network page build process applies one or more rules to determine one or more of the categories for which corresponding ones of the items are to be displayed in a network page.

Abstract: Interactions between an item and an online shopper may be used to determine interest in an item or a category of items. Once interest has been determined, the online shopper may be presented with an option to initiate communication with other users. This communication may be between a plurality of users including shoppers, owners, experts, item representatives, and so forth. Communication may include text chat, video chat, audio chat, telephone, and so forth. Rewards may be provided to some or all users to encourage communication.

Abstract: Item scarcity resulting from a high demand of the item is addressed by providing users a high demand sale process. In some aspects, users may opt-in to purchase the item in a sale by transmitting a mobile message to a host over a mobile device network prior to a sale of the item. If the user is eligible, the host then attempts to purchase the item on behalf of the user once the sale begins.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for using geographic areas to filter items in an electronic commerce system. A catalog of items is stored in a data store accessible by one or more computing devices. A geographical filtering process is provided that is executable in the one or more computing devices. The geographical filtering process comprises logic that obtains a specification of at least one geographical area, and logic that identifies a subset of the items based at least in part upon a plurality of past commercial transactions associated with the items occurring within the at least one geographical area.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for customized product display. A data structure schema is defined for describing product graphics, such as product images, and for defining how aspects of the product graphics should be displayed. Through the use of the schema, a product manufacturer can provide product graphics to an e-commerce merchant along with product display data formatted according to the schema that provides instructions to the merchant regarding how the manufacturer prefers the product graphics to be displayed. The merchant can then utilize the product graphics and the product display data to generate a product page for the product.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for grouping products by size and weight. A customer-facing user interface is provided to a user that allows the user to browse and search products in a merchant system in order to identify products having similar size and weight. An extension to the customer-facing user interface facilitates the grouping of the products having similar size and weight into product groups. A source product is selected for each product group. The source product is used by the merchant system as the source for dimensional data for the products in the product group.

Abstract: A method of providing recommendations is disclosed and includes receiving a selection of an offering via an online site. The method also includes outputting a detail page related to the offering via the online site. The detail page includes a first selectable indicator corresponding to a social network of a visitor and a second selectable indicator corresponding to unfiltered content. The method also includes outputting at least one recommendation via the detail page. Each recommendation is associated with a member of the social network when input received via the online site indicates a selection of the first selectable indicator.

Abstract: Paths followed by a plurality of devices are recorded. Devices of the plurality have sent content requests similar to a current content request. Behaviors exhibited by respective ones of the plurality of devices after sending content requests are recorded. The respective ones of the plurality of devices into intent groupings. A path followed by a device is assembled. The assembling the path comprises recording a plurality of physical location readings generated with respect to the device prior. An intent grouping matching the path is identified. The intent grouping is associated with an expected behavior. Content calculated to facilitate the expected behavior is identified.