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Re: What is the reasoning?

The cost of the piper ???

Re: What is the reasoning?

Otto Glass
Why we can't discuss pricing: the Details.

The short answer:
It's illegal. The law in question is the Sherman Antitrust Act


The long answer (and some links):

It carries a pretty hefty price tag. I think that it's safe to say that none of us here can afford it.
From the US Department of Justice:

Enacted in 1890, the Sherman Act is among our country's most important and enduring pieces of economic legislation. The Sherman Act prohibits any agreement among competitors to fix prices, rig bids, or engage in other anticompetitive activity. Criminal prosecution of Sherman Act violations is the responsibility of the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice.

Violation of the Sherman Act is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $10 million for corporations, and a fine of up to $350,000 or 3 years imprisonment (or both) for individuals, if the offense was committed before June 22, 2004. If the offense was committed on or after June 22, 2004, the maximum Sherman Act fine is $100 million for corporations and $1 million for individuals, and the maximum Sherman Act jail sentence is 10 years. Under some circumstances, the maximum potential fine may be increased above the Sherman Act maximums to twice the gain or loss involved. In addition, collusion among competitors may constitute violations of the mail or wire fraud statute, the false statements statute, or other federal felony statutes, all of which the Antitrust Division prosecutes.

In addition to receiving a criminal sentence, a corporation or individual convicted of a Sherman Act violation may be ordered to make restitution to the victims for all overcharges. Victims of bid-rigging and price-fixing conspiracies also may seek civil recovery of up to three times the amount of damages suffered.

http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/guidelines/211578.htm


Currently, insurance companies are forcing independent shops to sign agreements that include (discuss) prices so that they can be on a list of "approved" providers. Accordingly, any shop that signs the agreement is guilty of violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

Why isn't the law being enforced?

Worse is that the shop owners that sign the agreements don't even get to negotiate prices.

Worse yet, some shop owners are forced to endorse and "affiliate" with a direct competitor thereby advancing the competitors brand and putting their own brands and reputations in second place in order to get on the "approved" list.

Why isn't the law being enforced?

Re: What is the reasoning?

Yea, so is steering !!!

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