🚀 go-pugleaf

>As as ex-European may I express strong endorsment of Herbert Burkert's
>remarks. It is very frustrating, and should be illegal restraint of
>trade, for a US supplier to refuse supply to some countries. We
>made arrangements with colleagues in the USA to avoid such
>constraints.
>
>Good companies who wish to truly support their customers should
>avoid giving local distributors 'exclusive' rights. Let them
>compete in terms of price and service. The value in good will
>and reputation alone of not refusing to supply customers who
>want to buy from you is justification enough.
>
>It is a pity to see Niles falling into this old trap.
>
>Brian Gaines

Recent economic thinking on "exclusive dealerships" does not support the
view that they are necessarily detrimental to competition and hence to be
proscribed as illegal restraints of trade. (Apple has long used this
formula and one would be hard pressed to argue that Apple has thus shielded
itself from competition). That does not mean that all exclusive dealerships
function satisfactorily nor that frustrated users should not vent their
anger against the original rights holder (viz. Niles) for choosing an
exclusive dealership formula which turns out to be unsatisfactory. But
Endnote with all its exclusive or not outlets competes with other programs
and their distributions systems .

EJAN MACKAAY