[karlmarxman]

In addition, isn't a big part of Amazon's appeal the excellent customer service (especially effective in mitigating the cost of no physical presence when competing against big box stores)? I'm by no means an expert, but I'd assume that factors like speed and price are higher up on the list of priorities for a firm buying industrial supplies vs. the average customer shopping for books or a new TV. I just don't know how much of what Amazon is known for would translate into growing a market share in raw materials.