Amazon is debuting a new vertical today, called AmazonSupply, which is a new site for mechanical parts and other hardware for business and industrial sectors. Amazon says the site sells over 500,000 items, including bench-top centrifuges commonly found in laboratories, radiation detectors designed for environmental testing, and carbide end mills used to machine titanium.
AmazonSupply aims to fulfill the parts and supply needs of the business, industrial, scientific and commercial. Customers can shop for items by product, material and brand across 14 categories, including Lab & Scientific, Test, Measure & Inspect, Occupational Health & Safety, Janitorial & Sanitation, Office, Fleet & Vehicle Maintenance, Power & Hand Tools, Fasteners, Power Transmission and more.
Amazon says that most orders of $50 or more receive free two-day shipping. In addition, AmazonSupply will offer 365 day returns, and corporate lines of credit and a dedicated customer service center.
The site has some crossover with Inventables, an online marketplace for technical materials and hardware.
Getting into B2B supplies is interesting for Amazon, considering its e-commerce initiatives have been more consumer-focused. With AmazonSupply, the e-commerce giant is expanding to a whole new set of professional and business customers, including those in the construction, mechanics, automobile, and research industries.
