Thursday, January 8th, 2009
eBay Acquires Positronic, Inc.
I can confirm reports that Christopher Payne, co-founder of Positronic, Inc., has joined eBay as VP of Search. Additionally, Positronic co-founder Dane Glasgow has joined eBay as VP of Engineering. I can also confirm that eBay has acquired Positronic to help with efforts at leveraging machine learning to provide a more predictive and compelling customer experience.
Founded in 2007, Positronic has created predictive models and a machine learning platform that is vital for developments in search-based initiatives. Currently based in Seattle, WA, the team will relocate to San Jose.
I already have an interview scheduled for early next week with both Christopher and Dane that I look forward to sharing with readers here on Ink.
Cheers,
RBH
Tagged: Christopher Payne, Dane Glasgow, ebay, ecommerce, Microsoft, Positronic, search
JJHOn January 8, 2009 at 5:35 pm Said:
Search, eh?
Well, one can only HOPE this will lead to search improvements, as BEST MATCH stinks.
nikkiOn January 8, 2009 at 5:49 pm Said:
Yeah Ebay, a great move. I think you’re totally headed in the right direction for 2009. Just maintain what you’ve implemented and don’t do any more drastic changes and things will really start to come together. So far this year.. and I know it’s only 8 days into the new year, I am up in sales 60% year over year, ebay fees are down and non-paying bidders are almost non-existent. The FP30 was an awesome idea! I don’t spend half my life listing items anymore. I’m so excited about the billmelater acquisition and can’t wait to get it integrated into ebay. It’s going to be a great 2009 for ebay and for me.
Just thought I’d make a post from a gold powerseller that is actually happy about where ebay is headed.
Keep up the good work and don’t let the whiner babies get you off track!
Yah!!!
BobOn January 11, 2009 at 5:18 pm Said:
The problem is that Chris Payne is no search expert. He is a business guy; not a technology guy. This is actually the whole problem at eBay to begin with.
Anyway, search at eBay is so bad that anything is worth trying. Just could they have found somebody better?
I know several people who worked under Chris at Microsoft, and while he has a decent feel for creating compelling user experiences, he was not effective as a VP at Microsoft and was basically pushed out.
GregOn January 12, 2009 at 5:22 pm Said:
The simple fact that eBay continues to try and decide for Buyers what it is they are searching for tells me this is another Cul-de-sac, with 3 point turnaround, right in the middle of the super Highway.
MsFish213On January 13, 2009 at 7:56 pm Said:
Greg, you forgot the never ending round-abouts on the super highway! Well, on the plus side, I don’t think search can get any worse, unless of course I go from invisible to nonexistent.
DaveyOn January 14, 2009 at 2:51 pm Said:
How about getting a proven Customer Relations and human behaviour expert and putting him/her over Trust & Safety and Customer Support. Someone who doesn’t assume that customers are out to cheat ebay at every turn…
Search IS a disaster, of course, but nothing as bad as the above departments.
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