greg_08 posted:.....................Things like master databases don't need to be maintained if it can scrape the web for new product numbers via the manufacturer website or sites like ebay and amazon just to get the input data. The rating and categorization would be done by the user.........................
Just a thought, but it's quite common for eBay listings to have the wrong item number attached to a posting, so you would need some method to determine what you think is correct if you find multiple sources. (would you look for many, then take a "majority rules" poll to guess which one is correct?)
Maybe it's not as common as I think, but as an example, I have a few SKU number searches set up on eBay for emailing me when one comes up. I've routinely (probably at least 5 or 6 times now over a year or 2) gotten a hit for an item that I know doesn't match. (while I admit I don't check every time, I think it's probably always the same seller, it's at least the same picture used).
And this example is a modern item, being sold as brand new in the box, so the seller could easily confirm the info before posting, just by reading it off the box label (carelessness). It could be much worse when the seller needs to use other methods to guess a product number for an item not in the original box.
-Dave
