Minimum Advertised Prices = MAP
How could you ever benefit by simply paying MORE for a product? We all use gasoline... are you getting better mileage now that prices almost $4/gallon? To put that another way, would you rather pay $2 for gas or $4 for gas?
If you think that MAP prices help you as a consumer then you obviously have plenty of money to burn through and probably answered that you'd rather pay $4 for a gallon of gas. But, if you would rather pay $2 for gas then you understand that MAP prices provide no additional benefit to you as a consumer. Your car doesn't get any better gas mileage on $4/gallon gas than it did in 2001 on $2/gallon gas (but it does cost you twice as much just to drive back and forth to work.)
Sure, arguments can be made for how manufacturers benefit and how distribution channels benefit. But, you are not a manufacturer or a distributor. You are a consumer. Your job is to acquire the products that you want at the lowest price possible (tip). In contrast, the job of a business is to sell it's products and services for the maximum price that it is able. MAP policies erode your ability to purchase products at the low prices that you deserve.
The bottom line is that if you are paying $300 for a bat that you should be able to buy for $240, you are giving $60 to someone else instead of keep it in your pocket. If you're paying $180 for a glove that was $150 just a few months ago, then you giving up the price of an equipment bag just so that you can buy your glove.
When you shop for baseball and softball equipment, or for electronics, video games, appliances or any other product that is priced the same all over the web, you need to stop and ask yourself, "is this a MAP product?"
Remember, just because a company is forced to advertise a product at (or above) a specific price, you don't need to pay that price. All you have to do is ASK!
See you at the ball field,
Western Athletic Supply
www.wasupply.com
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