UK office products group Spicers has downplayed its role in setting up an online shop on Amazon.
Ernie's Office Supplies is an Amazon Marketplace vendor that does not hide the fact that the webshop is operated by Spicers, but describes the company as a "retailer".
A customer service telephone number on the site takes callers to an automated message that says 'Welcome to Spicers'.
Meantime, Spicers CEO Alan Ball told OPI that while the Ernie's concept may be causing some confusion in the UK office supplies channel, it is not an example of Spicers selling direct to end-users.
"The fundamental part of any business relationship is who do you pay," said Ball. "In all cases with our Amazon presence the end-user pays Amazon and, in the case of Ernie's, we have no relationship with customers except for the delivery."
Ball also confirmed that it was Amazon that sets the prices on the Ernie's webstore and that Spicers invoiced Amazon directly and not the final consumers.
The Ernie's store offers over 10,500 products with around 1,200 of these Spicers' own 5-Star brand. Free one-to-two day shipping is offered to a UK address and there appears to be no minimum order value to qualify for free delivery, even for boxes of copy paper.
The 'About' description of the seller says: 'Ernie's Office Supplies is part of a privately-owned limited company established over 25 years ago. We are new to Amazon Marketplace, but our experience of working in the stationery and office products industry allows us to believe we can give you the experience you are looking for when purchasing through Amazon.'
Amazon is one of if not the fastest-growing sales outlet for office supplies in the UK.
Spicers is already doing business with Amazon UK as around 1500 5-Star products are available in Amazon's Stationery & Office Supplies store.