R.I.P. – Jellyfish and SmackShopping

Sorely missed will be the SmackShopping feature of the old Jellyfish platform which was a social shopping pioneer. The SmackShopping show allowed users to chat and work to catch products at the lowest possible price. Microsoft had kept the feature alive while transitioning over the Jellyfish concept and functionality to Cashback. Rumor is that Cashback will become part of MSN Shopping by the end of the year, but before then, SmackShopping has officially closed up shop. It’s too bad, because even without Microsoft and Jellyfish funneling traffic to the Smack feature, users continued to bid and chat. So it goes in Corporate Takeoverland.

R.I.P. – PriceRunner

Originally an engine which looked like it would have a chance to climb it’s way up into the 2nd Tier of comparison engines, PriceRunner has languished for some time as an also-ran of engines. Traffic has been sparse, and dedication to keeping the engine kicking was sparse as well. Even though category level bidding was added, nothing ever percolated here. So it goes in this post industrial tail spin we are all in. Another company is sifted out as everyone focuses on profitability.