Market restriction - is it legal?

[character_parties_aus]

I have a general question for legal eagles out there not specifically eBay related.

I have found a line of items I wish to sell. The items are all official etc. Upon speaking with the manufacturer they asked several questions about my business. As soon as they found out I was predominantly online and largely sold party goods they said they could not supply me. I can understand people not wanting to supply to people who largely sell on ebay due to price gouging. The reason they dont want to supply me is that the manufacturer sells goods in another market direct to the party industry and clearly does not want to reduce their current level of supply or margins in that market.  They only want to sell their new line to what they termed 'variety stores' ( dollar shops to you and me) as they are not in this market currently.

to me not only does this seem groslly unfair but is a supplier restricting who they sell to on the grounds of the market place they represent legal?

[joethenuts]

100% a distibutor or even a wholesaler can choose not to sell you goods , just like a retailer in a shop can refuse to serve you ,

they dont need to give you a reason ,

[beach_and_home]

I have been buying and selling all sorts of everything for over 20 years.

My experience of these situations is almost always the same. I feel desperate to buy a certain product and either there is an exclusivity issue or logistical problems or whatever and I can't get what I want. It eats away at me, I can't stop thinking about it and I just really really want it.

Then later there is a point where I realise I didn't need it and it actually wasn't as good as I thought, and I end up being glad that I couldn't get it.

Hope this makes you feel better!!!!

[arlottstreetstation]

I agree - I've been refused many Agencies & Dealer Agreements over the years. Mostly because of the old 20th Century thinking re On-Line Sellers... And not surprisingly, if you mention Ebay, they just about hang up in your ear !!!

However, in most cases I've eventually either been able to get around it by finding an O/S Wholesaler or eventually a BETTER PRODUCT!!

My attitude is "It's THEIR loss" - I'll keep on keeping on & will probably and up selling in opposition to them & taking sales away from them when they could have benefiting from a share of my Sales by selling to me in the first place....

All is fair in love & war....

[character_parties_aus]

Thanks for your responses. It comes down that it is legal as its not market restriction. Another company has exclusive licensing rights ( not sure if thats legal but thats another story and it probably is) which means this company cant provide me on that basis. Interestingly the price for product from the company with exclusive licensing rights for pretty much the same product is three times that of the company I want to buy from so I think I'll still report them to the ACCC! Sometimes retail is just too hard and its easier to make a cup of tea.