ekoast
Registered
I have a question on Ikelite pricing and general policy and I would welcome feedback from Ikelite.
Up until two days ago, there were a variety of vendors that had different yet relatively competetive pricing on the Ikelite 6146.12 housing for the Canon G12 camera. I found an on-line vendor that is an authorized dealer that had the most competitve price a few days ago.
Today, when I go to order it, the price jumped $30. Granted not a large sum of money, but it appears that every vendor has followed suit within the last 2 days. Now every dealer has the exact same price. It was explained to me that in order for a vendor to maintain their Ikelite "authorized" status, they must follow the prices set by Ikelite.
I understand why housing prices are on the expensive side due to limited production and sales for a particular model. Although, what I am unclear about is why Ikelite controls what the vendor sells it for on the retail side. If the vendor wanted to sell it for $1, Ikelite still makes the wholesale amount from the Vendor.
Dictating what a vendor sells a product for certainly manipulates competition in a free retail market. As it may be allowed under the letter of the law, I as a consumer do not appreciate not being able to shop for the best value and choose the vendor that provides that value.
This type of pricing seems to be prevelant in many of the scuba industry vendor markets. I'm sure vendors do not like being told what they can and cannot charge for a product on the retail side in fear of loosing their "authorized" status.
Please know that this is not in any way an accusation of price fixing, as I know the difference. I am writing this from the perspective of a consumer that expects to be able to shop competitvely in a free market society and reward those with my business that provide the best value.
Thanks for any input.
Up until two days ago, there were a variety of vendors that had different yet relatively competetive pricing on the Ikelite 6146.12 housing for the Canon G12 camera. I found an on-line vendor that is an authorized dealer that had the most competitve price a few days ago.
Today, when I go to order it, the price jumped $30. Granted not a large sum of money, but it appears that every vendor has followed suit within the last 2 days. Now every dealer has the exact same price. It was explained to me that in order for a vendor to maintain their Ikelite "authorized" status, they must follow the prices set by Ikelite.
I understand why housing prices are on the expensive side due to limited production and sales for a particular model. Although, what I am unclear about is why Ikelite controls what the vendor sells it for on the retail side. If the vendor wanted to sell it for $1, Ikelite still makes the wholesale amount from the Vendor.
Dictating what a vendor sells a product for certainly manipulates competition in a free retail market. As it may be allowed under the letter of the law, I as a consumer do not appreciate not being able to shop for the best value and choose the vendor that provides that value.
This type of pricing seems to be prevelant in many of the scuba industry vendor markets. I'm sure vendors do not like being told what they can and cannot charge for a product on the retail side in fear of loosing their "authorized" status.
Please know that this is not in any way an accusation of price fixing, as I know the difference. I am writing this from the perspective of a consumer that expects to be able to shop competitvely in a free market society and reward those with my business that provide the best value.
Thanks for any input.