Price fixing is when manufacturers and/or retailers dictate the price at which a product can be sold vs. allowing companies to sell at a discounted price. This affects American consumers by raising the prices of items they need.
Think about it; if the price for a TV is set at $500, then no matter what store you go to, even on the Internet, the price will be the same. Doesn’t that seem like the opposite of what you would expect here in the United States?
The latest price fixing trick revolves around the Internet. In just a few clicks, consumers can identify the cheapest retail price for items very quickly. So, if an efficient on-line Internet store can knock a few dollars off their prices, you benefit from the savings. A lot of the big retail chains don’t like this competition, so they are forcing the manufacturers to set minimum pricing and not allowing efficient Internet retailers to sell products cheaper. With this practice, there is no way the consumer can save!
To explain price fixing in simple terms; a dozen of eggs cost the average consumer approximately $1.50. But, this price can vary from $.99 to $3.00 based on where you buy them. With price fixing, the egg distributor can set the price of the eggs at $3.00 – no matter where you buy them from. This takes away the consumers ability to find the best price for their purchases. If we don’t speak out now, this practice will continue to grow and restrict our ability to “shop around” for the best prices.
Join us in fighting price fixing by signing our petition to the right of this page. The small act of signing this petition gives you the ability to have your voice heard by those who shape this nation.
Read more about price fixing from the American Antitrust Institute
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