Auto Parts @ Amazon.com

As with other items available online, you will find that no one source has the best prices on all auto parts. Since most of Amazon.com's auto parts are supplied by a variety of third-party vendors, you will find an especially wide range of prices here. I wish I could say otherwise, but after working with the "Part-Finder" to the left, I found it pretty obvious that auto parts are not Amazon's main stock in trade. Nonetheless, you'll want to check Amazon for your automotive needs, and I'm going to do what I can to make that process easier.

First, although it is by no means obvious, there is a Parts-Finder Site Map which lists all the different makes for which parts are available. Although you may find only a few parts, such as spark plugs for some makes, this page does indicate the breadth of parts available.

Like all part-finder applications, Amazon's is only as good as the information in its database (which comes from various suppliers). While a part may actually be available, the part finder will not find it unless the vendor has listed your specific vehicle in their data. The best approach is often to search the "all of automotive" category for a specific part number which you have determined to be the correct one.

For example, Ford lists a "dual function reservoir" on several vehicles with dual gas tanks for a couple of years around 1989. I don't even remember the correct designation for my 1989 F-150, but the "base part number" is 9B263. Ford includes extraneous characters in their part naming scheme to make one part seem like many distinct parts. As of this posting, when searching for 9B263, two parts are displayed: F1UZ-9B263-B and F1TZ-9B263-B. They are the same part. Not similar, or compatible or work alike -- the same. There is no guarantee that the number on the part you recieve will even match the part you ordered, except for the base part number. Sweet!

Drilling down to 1989 Ford F-150 Fuel System Ford, is totally useless because the Amazon database doesn't "know" that the part fits.

Another example from the same project is the 1989 F-150 fuel filter for this truck. Besides listing a bunch of parts that are completely unrelated, the part finder doesn't realize that you can upgrade the recommended filter to a 1991 Crown Victoria filter, even though the old six-banger is listed under "see all vehicles this product fits." BTW, I can't recommend Fram. They used to be a very reputable brand, and although I haven't personally had any problems with their products, there have been far too many complaints lately to be ignored.

Textbooks for Back-to-School

Search All TextbooksAccountingArchitectureArt HistoryBusiness & FinanceComputer ScienceCommunication & JournalismDesignEconomicsEducationEngineeringForeign LanguagesHistoryHumanitiesLawLiteratureMathematicsMedicine & Health SciencesNursingPhilosophyPolitical SciencePsychologySciencesReferenceReligious StudiesTest Prep & Study GuidesVisual Arts

I was recently asked to write a page on textbooks, and although it may seem to be a little early to be thinking about back-to-school, given the lead time required for search engines to find and index pages it is if anything a little late -- at least from my point of view.

I suppose this is as good a time as any to mention to all my friends, fans, and family who actually go out of their way to purchase Amazon.com items through my links, that "all links are created equal." Amazon used to pay a premium to associates for items purchased directly from a product link, but that has been discontinued. Now any time you visit Amazon.com by clicking on one of my links, a "cookie" is set containing the appropriate Amazon Associate I.D. and any purchases made during the next 24 hours are credited to me, as long as the cookie is not reset by clicking on someone else's link.

The reason I mention that at this time is that Amazon has some more advanced seach functions for specific textbooks on their texbook homepage. It is often important to get the exact textbook assigned including the correct edition, since minor variations will cause a problem if for instance "pages 90 - 135" are assigned.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that textbooks are a very specialized market. In the "publish or perish" world of academia, many professors will be teaching from their own books, which are sometimes very low-volume items. While Amazon.com is usually an extremely economical source for books in particular, there are cases where the local campus bookstore will save you a few dollars, particularly if you are looking for used textbooks. If finances are an issue (and they usually are) you should check all available sources before making your purchase.

If you are selling a used textbook, you will often be able to get more by selling it through Amazon, although the process is more like selling an item on eBay than simply taking a book to the campus bookstore and taking whatever they are currently paying for that title.

The Martha Stewart Collection

If you like the Martha Stewart Collection, you may have been disappointed when it became a Macy's exclusive. I know I was, since the line was a very popular with my Amazon customers. Well, now in a separate deal, Macy's has contracted with Amazon to handle their online sales.

If you are new to Amazon, you will find that these "third party" sales are essentially the same as direct Amazon sales. The main difference you will notice is that the Amazon search function may include extraneous items, and it may be harder to browse through categories to see what is available.

Of course Amazon still carries Martha Stewart Books, and even has a Martha Stewart Bibliography page, in addition to the popular Martha Stewart Magazines and Martha Stewart DVDs. What has changed is that the Martha Stewart Collection products have moved into the Macy's Store, which makes them harder to search for. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible to find the Martha Stewart Bed & Bath Sale Items, the Martha Stewart Dining & Entertaining Sale Items, or the Martha Stewart Kitchen Sale Items without considerable drilling down. This is also true for the Martha Stewart Clearance Items.

The Links below are a site map for Macy's Martha Stewart pages, which require considerable drilling down to reach (except from here!) If you like Macy's but don't have a store near you, you might want to subscribe to this blog, since I am planning similar articles for other popular Macy's departments and brands.

Gifts

For the Home

• Dining & Entertaining
• Dinnerware
• Drinkware & Bar
• Entertaining
• Serveware
• Table Linens
• Sale


• Kitchen
• Bakeware
• Casual Dining
• Coffee & Espresso
• Cooks' Tools
• Cookware
• Cutlery
• Kitchen Electrics
• Sale


• Decorative Accents
• Collections
• Frames
• Throws & Throw Pillows

Bed & Bath

• Bath
• Bath Accessories
• Bed in a Bag
• Bedding Collections
• Blankets & Throws
• Down Comforters
• Duvets
• Featherbeds
• Kids Bedding
• Martha Stewart Collection (Bed & Bath)
• Martha Stewart Collection (Bath)
• Martha Stewart Collection (Bedding)
• Pillows
• Quilts
• Sheets
• Sale
• Clearance

Rugs

• Shop by Color
• Shop by Size
• Shop by Style

Clearance

• Bed & Bath Clearance
• Dining & Entertaining Clearance
• Kitchen Clearance

Amazon Kindle : The Perfect Graduation Gift?

Amazon.com's proprietary Kindle Wireless Reading Device is one of the best kept secrets in electronics. In contrast with Apple's iPhone media blitz, Amazon generates sales that often outpace their Kindle production capacity with little more than their own web-based promotion. While the First-Generation Kindle is now fairly well-known, the same cannot be said for the updated Kindle 2, or the upcoming Kindle DX, currently available for delivery this summer.

Kindle readers include a subscription to Amazon's Whispernet 3G Wireless service, subject to certain limitations. Although the terms of the contract could be clearer, it seems that normal web browsing is permitted. The service explicitly includes free downloads of first chapter previews, and discounted electronic "kindle" versions of 275,000+ books to date. Amazon is currently negotiating with several major textbook publishers, which potentially will dramatically increase the value of the Kindle to collegians.

Amazon acquired Mobipocket in April 2005, so Windows users can download the free Mobipocket Creator 4.2 Home Edition software, allowing them to convert a wide variety of files into the kindle-supported .PRC format. Understandably, Amazon doesn't aggressively publicize the fact that thousands of public-domain titles are freely available in this form from Amazon, Mobipocket, Project Gutenberg, and others.

For Apple enthusiasts, there is a Kindle App for iPhone and iTouch, although these devices obviously suffer from their small screen size. You will find useful information on Amazon's "Shopping the Kindle Store on Amazon.com" page, but it would be well worth the nominal fee to download The Kindle 2 Cookbook: How To Do Everything the Manual Doesn't Tell You