Posted by Joe Baker on August 01, 2000 at 16:25:31:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Monopoly or not?? posted by Phil on July 30, 2000 at 09:42:51:
"... the good news is, there are more brands of quality tubas out there ..."
Which is precisely why this is not a monopoly, but an exclusive distributorship.
Look at a smaller model of the same thing, with a product that has almost universal market: McDonald's. They are the ONLY place you can get a Big Mac. Sure, you can get a hamburger down the road at Burger King, but not a Big Mac. And if you go to McDonald's and ask if you can open another McDonald's next door? NO. They will protect each store's exclusive rights within their territory. This is the same thing, except the Big Mac costs $15,000, and the territory is the U.S.
Of course, you are free to not like it. It works to the advantage of the seller instead of the buyer, so of course buyers won't like it. But it is completely legitimate, and a practice that is at work in restaurants, car dealers, appliances, and musical instruments.
Joe "not available in stores" Baker