Debbie gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying:

I purchased a Canon f4L 300mm IS lens for £1089.90 from Amazon.co.uk.
Since they are a reputable UK retailer, I expected a VAT receipt to
allow me to reclaim the VAT. Unfortunately, the receipt supplied just
shows VAT as "blank". I have asked them for a new one, but no response
so far.

The lens was actually supplied by their "partner" called
SimplyElectronics, based on the Isle of Man. Their website shows the
same lens as costing £949.95 i.e. pretty much ex-VAT for a company being
outside of the UK.

Hold on a mo - did you buy it FROM Amazon or FROM SimplyElectronics on
the IoM, who just happened to be using Amazon as a shop window?

If the latter, then Amazon's got nothing to do with it.