They are a mixed blessing. Done the RPi way, where everything is sold at a "volume" price, its good for smaller users, compared to the normal quantity price break arrangement (we have large amounts of stock bought because the next price break meant it was very attractive to increase the order quantity, on the basis that "we will use it eventually"!). And TBH there's so little margin at the quoted prices for the Pi, that resellers have very little scope for undercutting each other. I think RPi's contract is more intended to minimise scalping during times of shortage.I don't particularly like such contracts as I consider them to be fundamentally anti-competitive, market interference, bad for resellers and consumers. It's often done to stop resellers under-cutting direct sales pricing, reducing manufacturer profit.
I am also aware of manufacturers who only sell at list price so as not to undermine their reseller network (OK, they probably do cut prices for direct volume orders, but not for 1-off).
It's also not uncommon for manufacturers to refuse to service small orders, referring customers to their reseller network. They often have arrangements in place to reward resellers who win large orders.
Remember that servicing lots of small orders is a very different proposition to servicing a relatively small number of large orders. Companies like RPT need their reseller network, so will normally work with them to achieve the best result for everyone.
Statistics: Posted by stevend — Fri Jul 26, 2024 1:52 pm