Five independent sources close to the action told ZDNet Australia that E-Store staff were on Friday sent home for a week, on full pay, to ponder their future following speculation of an acquisition by Wishlist.
E-Store has not been answering calls this week, but E-Store boss Stephen Spilly said in a company email that he is "not in a position to comment right now, but expect [sic] to be in a position to give accurate comment within 1-2 weeks".
Wishlist said -categorically no" when asked if it was purchasing its troubled rival.
-We haven't, have no intentions to, will not," a Wishlist spokesperson emphatically told ZDNet Australia. -It must be someone else."
Despite this steadfast denial, numerous ZDNet Australia sources claim the acquisition plan is currently undergoing the due dilligence process.
The latest scuffle at E-Store follows the retrenchment just a few weeks ago of over half of its staff.
Disclaimer: ZDNet Australia has a content relationship with E-Store.
Estore is infamous for having one of the worst customer service and delivery standards in the industry. This will make any acquisition plans difficult to implement, especially from Wishlist who's standards are on the opposite side of the scale...