Staples and OfficeMax, eat your hearts out. Amazon.com signed an e-commerce
alliance deal with Office Depot and launched an office products store on
its site that offers more than 50,000 products.
Like its rival Staples and OfficeMax, Office Depot
has long had its own online sales operation, but
this deal clearly expands its audience reach.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but Seattle-based Amazon’ssimilar deals with other partners are based on revenue sharing
agreements. One key component is that customers will be able to pick up their
online purchases in one of Office Depot’s 820 real-world stores in the United
States.
The selection at the Office Depot store on Amazon is
tailored to the personal office products user. Customers can access their
favorite Amazon.com features like customer reviews, search and
personalization.
The Amazon Office Products store now offers Office Depot products in addition
to the office-related products already available at Amazon.com. Amazon.com
will process the transaction for the customer while Office Depot will manage
inventory and product fulfillment.
Delray Beach, Fla.-based Office Depot said it would provide all
product-related customer service associated with Office Depot product orders
placed on Amazon.com. Amazon.com will provide customer service related to Web
site functionality and credit card transactions.
The deal adds to Amazon’s marketing alliances with other companies, including Target (which
recently consolidated its e-sales efforts), Toys ‘R’ Us, Circuit City and
Marshall Fields.