This is common practice in most supply chains. The manufacturer does not
force dealers to sell at a certain price. They will just refuse to sell
more product to retailers who discount the price, or charge them more at the
wholesale level. Sometimes they only get upset if their product is
advertised at a low price. That's why it's not price fixing.
There are several good reasons for manufacturers to do this, but no good
reasons for Shimano considering their market position. I think they and
their traditional brick and mortar resellers haven't figured out how to deal
with internet sales and the global market it opens up to all of us. Markets
were so much easier to control when we couldn't shop all over the US, Great
Britain, France, etc. for the best price. They're still stuck in their
traditional segmented market mentality and are scared of the new retail
world. So they only let big e-commerce sites (ones they have a cozy
relationship with) sell until they can figure things out. As far as I can
tell they still think of the dealers and manufacturers as their customers...
not the end user. Do you dealers have to buy Shimano from a distributor, or
do you buy direct? I think sooner or later someone is going to come along
and "Dell" the cycling market.
Just .02 from a marketing consultant.
"Qui si parla Campagnolo " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:I said-<< >shimano is trying to control their distribution. They are
trying to
Quoted message said:stop gray
Quoted message said:market, back-door supply and OEM resale, because most of those people DO
NOT
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:service their products well. >><BR><BR>
ADR said-<< Sounds like price fixing to me.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:<BR><BR>
Not according to the FTC...
ADR-<< I see a problem with price fixing. >><BR><BR>
See above-
adr-<< Not all people need the same level of
service, >><BR><BR>Service level doesn't determine price but wholesale prices do. shimano is
controlling their distribution, closing many 'backdoor' sources. Places
like
Quoted message said:Licktons and Branford would pay more for shimano they sell, they didn't
like
Quoted message said:that.
Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
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