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Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: Raymond Ban ()
Date: January 27, 2012 12:42PM

I was shopping for oakley sunglasses recently and noticed that everywhere I go (brick and mortar) they are always the same price. And anytime there's a store coupon it ALWAYS says not applicable to Oakley products.

I found the same pair on ebay for less (hopefully, they're genuine...) but, I'm curious...isn't controlling retail prices like this a textbook monopoly case? And if so, why haven't they been sued?

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: justsayin ()
Date: January 27, 2012 12:52PM

Many times there are cross-advertizing agreements where a retailer will agree to not advertize a product below a certain price. Usually Apple products are the same price no matter where you find them.

A monopoly is one company that is the sole source of a type of product or resource. Oakley isn't a monopoly because others sell their product and they aren't the only source for sunglasses. People are free to buy other sunglasses if they think the price of the Oakley brand isn't worth it.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: Warhawk ()
Date: January 27, 2012 12:54PM

Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: Collusion ()
Date: January 27, 2012 01:06PM

justsayin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Many times there are cross-advertizing agreements
> where a retailer will agree to not advertize a
> product below a certain price. Usually Apple
> products are the same price no matter where you
> find them.
>
> A monopoly is one company that is the sole source
> of a type of product or resource. Oakley isn't a
> monopoly because others sell their product and
> they aren't the only source for sunglasses.
> People are free to buy other sunglasses if they
> think the price of the Oakley brand isn't worth
> it.


OP probably meant to ask about antitrust laws.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: justsayin ()
Date: January 27, 2012 01:18PM

The cost of bringing a civil lawsuit would buy tons of Oakley sunglasses.

I guess one could complain to the FTC to see if they will investigate criminal activity, but I doubt taxpayers want the FTC spending time and money doing that when the solution is so easy for consumers to take.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: Monopolist ()
Date: January 27, 2012 01:26PM

These are not laws, really, just good game strategy:

1) The Orange property group is the best to own because players land on them more often, as a result of the Chance cards Go to Jail, Advance to St. Charles Place, Advance to Reading Railroad and Go Back Three Spaces.

2) In all, during game play, Illinois Avenue, New York Avenue, B&O Railroad, and Reading Railroad are the most frequently landed-upon properties. Mediterranean Avenue and Baltic Avenue are the least-landed-upon properties.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: open eyez ()
Date: January 27, 2012 01:35PM

Warhawk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars.


Damm you, I was gonna go with a similar line...

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: binge drinker ()
Date: January 27, 2012 03:08PM

I often wonder why the state gets a monopoly on hard liquor.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: its not a right ()
Date: January 27, 2012 03:13PM

binge drinker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I often wonder why the state gets a monopoly on
> hard liquor.

Because you have no protected right to get drunk. Its a privilege that can be regulated.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: doesn't matter at all ()
Date: January 27, 2012 03:22PM

its not a right Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> binge drinker Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I often wonder why the state gets a monopoly on
> > hard liquor.
>
> Because you have no protected right to get drunk.
> Its a privilege that can be regulated.

Antitrust laws don't work that way. You don't have a protected right to buy software, but see what DoJ does when they perceive a monopoly.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: Warhawk ()
Date: January 27, 2012 03:25PM

The free parking space is just that - a free space. Monopoly rules don't allow for money to be collected from the middle of the board when it's landed on.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: doesnt matter ()
Date: January 27, 2012 03:40PM

doesn't matter at all Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Antitrust laws don't work that way. You don't
> have a protected right to buy software, but see
> what DoJ does when they perceive a monopoly.


Except it does matter because the consumer isnt getting completely gouged by the ABC store and the state has an interest in making it harder to get it. Antitrust laws are to protect the consumer from being ripped off, and government interests override those laws anyway and they can grant any exceptions they want.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: binge drinker ()
Date: January 27, 2012 04:02PM

But the state is the only one allowed to sell hard liquor. How do we know we cannot get a better price, selection or service if the existing market is closed to everyone else.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: binge drinker ()
Date: January 27, 2012 04:04PM

Keeping in mind while you could go to DC or Maryland you are prohibited from bringing back certain amounts. Suppose the service or selection was so poor in Virginia yet you are told if you dont like it tough, we are the only game in town.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: kind of true ()
Date: January 27, 2012 04:07PM

binge drinker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Keeping in mind while you could go to DC or
> Maryland you are prohibited from bringing back
> certain amounts. Suppose the service or selection
> was so poor in Virginia yet you are told if you
> dont like it tough, we are the only game in town.


Well thats kind of true. ABC will order anything you want if they dont have it so selection isnt really an issue.

But you are allowed to go to DC and bring back a personal use amount. What you cant do is buy enough for a party or resale or for your bar if you owned one. Is ABC more expensive that private stores would be, yea some, but VA and ABC laws as a whole are designed to limit cheap binge drinking opportunities

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: Olde Farte ()
Date: January 27, 2012 04:10PM

binge drinker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Suppose the service or selection
> was so poor in Virginia yet you are told if you
> dont like it tough, we are the only game in town.

I believe the selection in Virginia is beyond outstanding - and that's not a joke.

Go to the Virginia ABC site and see for yourself - anything they do NOT have they can order for you:

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/42697/783768.html#msg-783768

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: binge drinker ()
Date: January 27, 2012 04:14PM

In my mind nothing improves customer service and pricing more than competition. I will say the stores do a good job but my personal mindset is this is a commercial product just like beer and wine and they are run by private business.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: kind of true ()
Date: January 27, 2012 04:27PM

binge drinker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In my mind nothing improves customer service and
> pricing more than competition. I will say the
> stores do a good job but my personal mindset is
> this is a commercial product just like beer and
> wine and they are run by private business.


Theres truth to that too, but beer and wine have a lot of problems with underaged buyers that they dont want to expand into liquor as well. Private stores would be better for us as a consumer in terms of prices but the state doesnt want liquor stores with neon signs everywhere and wants to make sure with the higher alcohol content that only people that are supposed to buy it buy it

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: MrMephisto ()
Date: January 27, 2012 04:30PM

Actually, these guys have a monopoly on sunglasses: http://www.luxottica.com/en/brands/house_brands/index.html

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: Bill.N. ()
Date: January 27, 2012 04:51PM

binge drinker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> But the state is the only one allowed to sell hard
> liquor. How do we know we cannot get a better
> price, selection or service if the existing market
> is closed to everyone else.

When the 18th Amendment was repealled they added the provision "The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited." This was traditionally interpreted to give the states broad powers not just over whether alcohol could be sold, but where, by whom and under what circumstances. Recent court rulings on restrictions on interstate wine shipments indicate that perhaps the courts will not be as tolerant on state rules in the future.

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: John Jameson ()
Date: January 27, 2012 06:56PM

binge drinker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Keeping in mind while you could go to DC or
> Maryland you are prohibited from bringing back
> certain amounts. Suppose the service or selection
> was so poor in Virginia yet you are told if you
> dont like it tough, we are the only game in town.

What is the maximum amount of beer, wine and or liquor that can be brought back from DC to VA and from MD to VA? I've looked for the laws, but can't find them...

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Re: Question about monopoly laws
Posted by: abc ()
Date: January 27, 2012 07:14PM

John Jameson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> What is the maximum amount of beer, wine and or
> liquor that can be brought back from DC to VA and
> from MD to VA? I've looked for the laws, but can't
> find them...


1 gallon at a time per person of legal drinking age.

http://www.abc.state.va.us/licensing/abcfaq1.htm

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