tropical fish wholesale monopoly

I dont want to turn this into an economic forum, but that is rather misleading. There are many exceptions to those regulations. Collusion is different than price collaboration, and cartels per se are not illegal. In the UK, for instance, only horizontal mergers qualify for cartel status. I am fairly certain thats the same in America. One of the largest international institutions is essentially a Cartel (though leaning away from that name ), and the United States fully recognizes its authority and legitimacy.

I fully agree with you that recent legislation (and as far back as the last 2 centuries) has made it much more difficult for cartels to operate in the sense that they used to, but they are by no means dead. You are aslo probably correct that price collaboration in the wholesale fish industry would be illegal, since they are not merged in most cases, and even if they were it would likely be a horizontal agreeement. But just because it isnt legal doesnt it mean it isnt happening. There is plenty of PC out there, in all markets. Can we not talk economics anymore though? I have enough to suffer at the office
 
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If that collaboration restrains trade, or is an attempt to monopolize a certain industry it is indeed illegal.
 
I cant think of a single active cartel that operates legally and has achieved a monopoly.

OPEC (i assume thats what your talking about) is for one, not a true business, as it is countries doing the selling, and two, operating as an oligopoly because of the competition from other countries.
 
Cartels dont have to be monopolies- and if you argue for OPEC's status as an ologopoliy, it still engages in price collaboration.This is a ridiculous conversation to be having on a fish forum. I am sorry to even keep it going; I apologize, its my fault for not being specific enough and bringing up an argument that I dont possibly have the time to pursue (and I doubt that you do) in this context.
 
id say try your damdest to get around the whole thing. find a breeder of what you want. doesnt seem it would be to tough really.

seems also if you got to know well enough they could tie a large shipment onto one of their orders for only a slight mark up. theyd be foolish not to as it would be a little cash for merely putting in a order.
 
Wholesalers don't mark up their prices by the huge margins retailers do
Right on the money. Especially those lfs that don't have prices posted. Always have to ask and it's a on site guesstimate. Saw a rtc/tsn 3" which owner proceeded to say that it just arrived and he wants to move it. So he'll take $49 which normally would have been $59. Give me a break!
 
Originally posted by Tando Murphy
BK -
THat web link to aquatic wholesalers RULES, dewd. I went on there and can't wait to join up. My goodness - zebra plecos for $35!!!! That alone would pay for itself.
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing that link.
Also, just to throw in my 2 cents about the monopoly thing, I think it's not a monopoly so much as wholesalers only dealing with folks that have a retail license. That's standard business practice. They want to deal with larger volumes, such as fish stores and thousand dollar orders, not little orders for an individual that wants 6 neons, ya know?

I agree with ya Murph, I really think I might pay the $35 and join the site...in the long run it will really pay off. And maybe I can make some cash selling to others, haha ;).
 
i would do some research before joining aquaticwholesale, i am not sure if they are even still in buisness. my only purchase form them was some L66 when they ran their no memebrship needed special last year. shipping ran like $35-40 for six small fish.

if you do join let me know how they work out for you.

Bk
 
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