Hi,
Minelab, like many manufacturers, does try to defend boththe worth of their product and their dealer network by setting discount levels on the units. But what is left open are the freebies that get included, which in effect removes any true price fixing. It ends up being about who throws in the most free stuff, ala Kellyco. The question ends up being whether the stuff thrown in is really worth what it is being quoted as in dollar value. If I but a set of headphones for $10 and tell you it is a set worth $50 it does make it look like a great deal, but the reality is it is still a cheap set of headphones. And if the stuff included is stuff you really do not even need, is it really worth anything?
It all comes down to the same story, competition, and so the dealers (like me) have to try and put the best deal they can afford together to fight for the business.
It realistically only applies to the Internet. When you are dealing with a dealer face to faace just hammer out the best deal you can get, without the manufacturer looking over the shoulder of the dealer.
To defend the dealers the idea is to try and make sure you still end up having deealers out there. Otherwise it would all devolve into one outfit in a farm field in Kansas with a huge warehouse selling all detectors mailorder. I for one do like to go to a local dealer for stuff and see it in person before buying and so usually buy locally when I can.
Steve Herschbach