Not surprised at all.
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I’d imagine the UK watchdog will be taking notice too.
They may find themselves similarly investigated outside the EU.
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I’m not sure about the reason, were they fine for price increase or discount? Europe may have different laws but here in the states it’s ok for manufactures to set a MAP, minimum advertising price. Stores can’t advertise price below the set price but if a buyer comes to the store or call they can offer lower than MAP privately. That’s why I always call for better price on a new gear.
On the other hand if the store want to increase the price because the demand are high or their overhead increased, they should be able to do it too, why not? If they set the price too high above MAP, someone would sell it for lower price, people would buy it there.
There’s probably more to the story but it doesn’t add up to me.
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There’s more to the world the the US. MAP is a ridiculous concept. MSRP makes more sense. Trying to force the retailer to advertise at a minimum is irrational. Sell the retailer the product and let them decide how much margin they want to make.
MAP is illegal in the EU and the UK.
MSRP is pretty meaningless here; MAP really fills that role. That article is incorrect in stating the price companies sell an item for - they limit what the advertised price is. You usually can get it for less.
MSRP doesn’t work in Europe either. I have seen several European firms set a artificially high MSRP just so they can advertise a discount.
The part that troubled me about the initial story is that companies colluded to set prices. Thay shouild have a hammer come down on them for that.
They had it on the arch over the entrance to the market in ancient Rome - Caveat Empto, let the buyer beware
Exactly MAP forces stores to only advertise at the price set by the manufacturer. They aren’t allowed to advertise below the MAP. However you know, I know and anyone with any buying experience knows; just email / phone and you can negotiate a better price.
So it’s kind of pointless. It’s from the pre internet dark ages when you bought your stuff from the local store and it was too far for you to ride on your horse to shop around.
Like anything else pricing related, both are tools to try and extract maximum cash from uninformed buyers. They are just slightly different tools.
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Just like dairy farming, maximum amount of milk with the minimum amount of moo.
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Quick update on my Fender experience, just for the laughs:
After 3.5 weeks, my Duff McKagan PJ finally returned from servicing yesterday. The P pickup is working now, but only when I switch to P mode. In PJ mode it’s J only. So I guess now the pickup selector is broken… 
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This is usually my luck.
I went for years with everything I bought had something wrong with it.
I think it happened so much I got my lifetime fill.
Total bummer @akos, that blows.
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Oh jeeze. Ya think they could make that work
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Nice QC there. You would think they would have tested it 
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It seems that atm. the safest bet from Fender is a Squier. 
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This kind of “quality” warranty work also simply reinforces my primary mantra around buying basses: always buy used, from sellers with good reputations.
I recently had a good experience buying new, but then sold it at a loss anyway. I should listen to my own advice more
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I’m right there with ya. There’s one bass on my bucket list I think will be new, but will be used after that.
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Can’t complain about my MIM P bass but there’s really very little they can f*** up there
That’s dreadful, no excuse for not testing it before returning it.
Who was looking after the repair?
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Probably the night janitor, by the looks of it…
I don’t know really. I returned it to the online retailer, they sent it to “a qualified technician”, then back to the retailer, and back to me. (I don’t want to name the retailer, because I assume it’s not their fault.)
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Fair enough.
I remembered you were also in Ireland so was wondering if it was one of the local retailers or the distributor. But if it’s an online retailer outsourcing the repair it could have been anyone that did the work.
Bud’s While U Wait Scrapyard and Guitar Repair
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