Where's the competition?

Can anyone explain why the prices for TeleVue, AP, TMB,
Pentax etc products are exactly the same every where in
the US? For example, I checked every retailer and no matter where I called, the TV Naglers where always the same price.


Rob

Truly a paradox. We all want lower prices but at what cost? Have you ever wondered why the manufacturers like Televue, AP, Meade or Celestron don't sell direct? The reason the manufacturers don't sell direct is they don't want the overhead associated with selling the product they are making. Thus with a smaller staff they can ship the finished product in bulk to the dealers and let them handle all the "daily" activity that creates so much overhead.

It used to be nice to see a little competition. I remember when you could actually “shop” the advertisements in the magazines. Now it is the same advertisement and pricing over and over and over again just a different dealer. Who actually looks at them anymore? Other than name recognition, I don’t know why they advertise at all? Seems like a lot of money going out when everybody is basically selling the same things at the same prices. I feel sorry for guys like Herb and the rest trying to entice a buyer to their store when they know the consumer can get the same thing just about anywhere. The days of true competition are gone and it is sad in a way.

Paul Atkinson
AstroProProducts.com