mcmillan@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison) (02/24/84)
I was informed by a Princetonian that the university has done something
slightly diferent than what I originally suggested. The University has
arranged for students to buy the MACs through a local small computer
company, Clancy-Paul, that sells at several locations, including the
University store. I am told that CLancy-Paul will get the commission,
which is about $200 for the hardware, and $99 for the (currently) "free"
MACpaint and MACwrite software.
There is certainly a lot of commonsense in giving a computer store the
responsibility for selling computers, and it makes sense to pay them for
the effort. $200 may be very reasonable for the hardware; $99 is just
plain silly for the software unless Clancy-Paul is undertaking to provide a
lot of software customer support.
But seriously, here is a commercial computer dealer selling MACs for less
than half of list price!!
(1) Is this legal?
(2) Does Clancy Paul have the same right as the University to restrict sales
of the low price MAC to students?
- Toby Robison
allegra!eosp1!robison
decvax!ittvax!eosp1!robison
princeton!eosp1!robison
(NOTE! NOT McMillan; Robison.)dave@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Sherman) (02/27/84)
~| From: mcmillan@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison)
~| But seriously, here is a commercial computer dealer selling MACs for less
~| than half of list price!!
~| (1) Is this legal?
It sure better be. All the antitrust laws (in Canada, the anti-combines
legislation) are aimed at preventing retail price maintenance. True
competition demands that the retailer be able to sell the product at
whatever discount it wants.
Dave Sherman
Toronto
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{allegra,cornell,decvax,ihnp4,linus,utzoo}!utcsrgv!dave