Five years ago, S&S Cycle instituted an Internet Reseller Policy (IRP) that restricted online sales of S&S product. Much has changed since that policy was developed with e-commerce becoming the most rapidly growing of retail channels and many of our resellers investing in online solutions. S&S Cycle’s IRP limited the ability for our resellers to effectively market and sell S&S and Crane products against competitors supporting online sales.
Effective January 2, 2012, S&S Cycle replaced the IRP with a new Minimum Advertised Price policy (MAP) that will require retailers to be in compliance by March 31st, 2012. The MAP policy applies to all advertised pricing including print, radio, television, internet media and new product sold on auction websites. Unlike the IRP, the MAP policy will allow retailers to actively promote and sell S&S parts on e-commerce sites provided prices shown are not less than S&S’ Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price.
Unlike the IRP, the MAP policy will maintain the price integrity expected for premium brands like S&S and Crane, not only in online advertising but in all forms of communication including radio, television, flyers, posters, newspapers, catalogs, coupons, mailers, and email.
The Dealer Center section of the S&S Cycle website has been modified to communicate important information about the new MAP policy. In addition to the policy itself, the section includes a form which resellers can use to report advertising that does not conform to the policy, and a current S&S Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price list. Please see http://www.sscycle.com/map_policy.php for more information.
We appreciate the continued support of our dealer and distributor network and are confident that this policy change will provide an opportunity to increase their sales while protecting the price integrity of S&S and Crane products.