I am quite sure I am right. The difference is only if the seller has a
"PUBLISHED" price list. Most of the larger suppliers we all
buy from do and for the most part they stick to it. However some of the
smaller ones have their own "Price Guide" which they will not
show their customers. Try this out sometime. Call a local independent parts
house and ask for pricing on any part. Write it down and
call back later and ask about the same part. If you get the same price quoted
the second time, tell them that you can get it at a
better price at another store and ask if they can meet or beat theirs. Chances
are they will.
That, by the way is one of the exceptions to deviating from the published
prices. Generally, there has to be some documented evidence
that a "Meet Comp" price is in effect before special pricing can be legally
granted.
In summary, the only reason retail vendors would be exempt from this practice
is if they DO NOT publish their prices (i.e. send out a
catalog).
Regards,
Joe
DRSkruffy@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 5/31/00 2:24:27 AM !!!First Boot!!!, spitlist@gte.net
> writes:
>
> << It's been in effect at least as far back as the mid 70's when I was in
> charge of the dealer parts department at Texas Instruments. It
> seems that if you do not publish your prices, you can sell anything for what
> ever you want. But if you do publish your prices you are
> bound by law to stick with them. The only exceptions are really not
> exceptions at all but rather published discounts based on some
> rational formula. Most of the time it is volume related.
>
> A lot of companies get in to trouble trying to go after different market
> channels with the same product. Direct marketing vs
> distributors is probably the most troublesome proposition. That is why you
> will find slightly different model numbers for things like
> computer printers marketed by Costco vs. Hewlett Packard Value added
> Resellers. If you look, you are positive it is the same product.
> The name has been changed to protect not the innocent but the manufacturer.
>
> Joe
> >>
>
> No, I don't think that's right. I mean, not for your local parts dealer. I
> agree that it is true for large suppliers, especially at the wholesale level,
> relating to price fixing, anti-trust, etc, but I don't believe it applies to
> the retail vendor.
>
> I recall, many years ago studying that in B-law, I think it was related
> specifically to grocery stores in the examples we looked at.
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