Actually, both are price fixing, and illegal in my country (France). When a manufacturer advertises prices, the small type reads "price generally seen in most stores" or some much, because manufacturers can't enforce pricing through resellers, and thus can't assume their "recommended" prices will stick. Actually, "recommending" a price is frowned upon. IIRC, Apple has a clever way to enforce uniform pricing anyway.
In the same way, several competitors can't get together to agree on prices indeed.
C'mon. Price fixing is rampant in France. Check the price of any electronics item at FNAC, Darty, Apple Store, BHV -- anywhere. Why are they always the same, exactly? The notion of a B&H Photo in France is unthinkable -- probably because any kind of discounting is considered "unfair" and therefore illegal. By the way, I live in Paris.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, both are price fixing, and illegal in my country (France). When a manufacturer advertises prices, the small type reads "price generally seen in most stores" or some much, because manufacturers can't enforce pricing through resellers, and thus can't assume their "recommended" prices will stick. Actually, "recommending" a price is frowned upon. IIRC, Apple has a clever way to enforce uniform pricing anyway.
In the same way, several competitors can't get together to agree on prices indeed.
C'mon. Price fixing is rampant in France. Check the price of any electronics item at FNAC, Darty, Apple Store, BHV -- anywhere. Why are they always the same, exactly? The notion of a B&H Photo in France is unthinkable -- probably because any kind of discounting is considered "unfair" and therefore illegal. By the way, I live in Paris.