PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
Google acquired tech etail intelligence provider Rangespan last week and has cut off suppliers who were using the service – without telling them – PCR understands.
The news was picked up by several mainstream publications including the BBC last week, but it seems they missed the news that certain suppliers have been cut off from the service.
Rangespan works by informing online retailers which popular products they don’t currently stock – and allows them to order them in via suppliers signed up to the service.
However, PCR understands that following Google’s acquisition, some suppliers are now unable to login and have been shut off from the service without notification.
One tech and computing supplier told PCR that Rangespan represented 40 per cent of their online revenues – and now this revenue stream has just been taken away from them.
An anonymous supplier posting on TechWorld said: "Spare a thought for the hundreds of suppliers that helped Rangespan build this business, who were not even worthy of an email or phone call to tell them, ‘thanks but now that we have our payout, we will be closing down this sales stream for you’."
A statement on the Rangespan website reads: "We are very happy to announce that Rangespan is joining Google. We will continue to work on services for shoppers and retailers at Google, and we’re super excited about the opportunities to come.
"As part of the change, we will wind down Rangespan’s services. We’ve already begun working individually with each of our retailers and suppliers on this process."
Rangespan was set up by former Amazon execs in 2011.
