ponyboy96 - 4:49 pm on Feb 11, 2010 (gmt 0)

The manufacturer gets (or should be getting, if they're playing by their own rules) the same price for their products from every distributor. They get their money no matter what. They believe they'll sell less product if the brand identity is tarnished.

I think the problem here, at least in my industry, is that the manufacturer doesn't sell to everyone at the same price. Plenty of other shops are selling the same products that I do much cheaper than I can even buy them for. This leaves me not even bothering to carry their products as I cannot compete. When a company has MAP, I know I'm at least going to be able to be competitive.