What's up with Ping?

[TheWarHound]

In any language, I love my Ping clubs.

[Jcp907]

The law had nothing to do with the cases I cited. There's no law that prevents someone from discounting if it's in their reseller agreement, and why Ping wouldn't have it in their reseller agreement is still Ping's fault, not the law's. Furthermore, even if Ping's policy is "absolute minimum, no discounts" I doubt the law _requires_ them to sever the relationship for a one-time offense.

Erik, I hope that this document removes your doubt: http://www.abanet.org/antitrust/at-c...ING_Amicus.pdf

But that all being said, it was years ago and things have likely changed, and I don't want to beat it to death either (hoping we haven't already).

Me too. Hopefully the point I was trying to make is understood.

[neudi]

I used to work at Golf Galaxy and currently work in a pro shop that sells Ping. Ping representatives explain it as map pricing. When you sign a contract with Ping, they tell you what to sell their items for. This mostly only deals with clubs though. They are lenian on towels, bags, and so on. This map pricing allows for a company to sell it at any price over X. X being the lowest minimal price for Ping. If Ping finds a retailer selling it below X, they will pull that contract and will never allow that company to sell Ping again. I have seen it happen a few times. As long as the items in Ping are current and they are still considering it a "improving product" Ping will not allow a company to sell it below map. I don't believe there is any legal matter other than the contract where they can face a penalty other than losing their Ping license, but I could be wrong. Amazingly, almost all the companies have this Map pricing, but they only enforce it for a few months after a product is out on the market. Not sure about Taylor Made, since they put a new piece of garbage on the shelves every week. Only company that makes 52 drivers in a given year.

[iacas]

Erik, I hope that this document removes your doubt:

I don't really care to continue with this part of the conversation, but that document seems to me (I perused it only) to establish the legality of what they do.

It'd also be legal if they allowed people to offer discounted items. The two things are very different.

[LongDrive04]

It shouldnt matter that you had a coupon, the store basically gave you that extra 20 bucks!

No they wouldnt honor the coupon since I was trying to buy that Ping Putter. It's all fine though, I dont really like my local Golf Galaxy anyway.

[LongDrive04]

ping clubs are garbage in my opinion anyways. Doesn't bother me.

Why do you say that? Even though I am going to upgrade my Irons soon, I love my Ping's. I got a good deal on them from ebay a few years ago.