All people loves to look at the fellows from “Pawn Stars” lowball some determined chump into giving up his household heirloom for a fast buck.
And now, it appears to be like like Snapchat could be trying to transfer into an analogous space, with a new patent filing displaying that Snap’s developed an “image based valuation system” which might allow customers to get an estimate of any merchandise’s price (inside motive), by scanning stated merchandise through the Snap digital camera.
As you may see, on this instance, a consumer has scanned in a Pokemon card, which Snap’s system then scans to search out examples from throughout the online, from which it might then present a value estimate, primarily based on the fundamental identifiers of the scanned merchandise (i.e. it might’t account for situation, authenticity, and so forth.).
As defined by Patent Drop:
“Snap’s system depends on pc imaginative and prescient to establish objects, detect their high quality and assign worth to them. So, a consumer may flash an merchandise in entrance of the digital camera, particularly noting that it may be a collectible merchandise, like a “buying and selling card or comedian e-book.” The system will classify the merchandise by accessing a “a repository that corresponds with the thing class,” although it doesn’t disclose too many particulars about the place this repository is situated and what objects are in it.”
So it’s not totally clear the place Snap can be pulling its valuations from, although eBay, after all, is the primary supply utilized by collectors for many objects.
Primarily based on this, the system would then present a valuation of some kind, which might be useful for collectors, or for these trying to make some fast money on outdated objects, with out coming in to see Rick Harrison at his Las Vegas store with no valuation in thoughts (as a result of he can sense it, and he’ll lowball you to heck consequently).
As an beginner collector myself, I can see how this might be useful, utilizing Snapchat’s superior scanning tech to supply extra fast valuation information, versus having to trawl by means of eBay to search out comparative listings. If the system is ready to detect sure variables and components, with minimal effort, that might be a great way to get that information shortly, whereas it might additionally assist Snapchat to higher perceive a customers’ pursuits for future content material and advert concentrating on.
It doesn’t look like it might grow to be a serious factor for Snap, however relying on the outcomes it offers, it might be a useful part, for a spread of area of interest teams, which may broaden Snap’s utility, and as famous, enhance its advert concentrating on databanks.
There’s no phrase at this stage as to Snap’s plans for the venture, and whether or not it’s nonetheless in growth. Nevertheless it may make Snap a greater platform for concentrating on collectors, with added information on extremely engaged customers in numerous niches.
