WOW! JUST WOW!!!
Intel hit with 1.45 BILLION Anti-trust fine
Now, I am going to plead total ignorance as to "Intel, or AMD." But shazzaaaam! One and one half BILLION dollars...WOW!
The article reveals that the European (cough cough) Union found that Intel was paying producers to promote their product, and stifle the use of AMD chips.
So, I got to thinking about my personal experience. I sold appliances and televisions for about 10 years for a living. When I was about to marry, it just so happened that the Whirlpool Distributor was offering a cruise to Nassau if you could sell X number of Whirlpool products during a specific time. Now, we sold Westinghouse, GE, and Whirlpool appliances.
Take a guess at what
From time to time, the Zenith, or the RCA, or the Magnavox Distributor would offer "spiffs" to the retail salesmen in the appliance stores. Say for instance Interstate Electric would offer 10 bucks for every RCA television you sold during the month of July. Guess what flew off the shelves? Heh, in 1979, I could sell 9 RCA's, and make my house note!...with 2 bucks left over...
So, I don't know what "unfair trade practices" really are. Is building a better mousetrap "unfair?" Is offering financial, or other incentives "unfair?" Is schmoozing it up, or wining and dining a buyer "unfair?"
1.45 BILLION...Shazzaaaaammm...
Unfair trade practices would be relying on the Government to crush your competition-or the EU...
ReplyDeleteGood thought Andrew! I guess it would also count when the gubmit bails out the competition that you have worked diligently to beat...
ReplyDeleteSigh
Precisely. The real threat to competitive business is government intervention.
ReplyDeleteI think it's fair to say the EU's idea of 'fair trade practices' is likely more aligned with Karl Marx than free market economics.
ReplyDeleteI thought that a company paying to promote their product was called advertising. Oh what do I know.
ReplyDeleteDadman: YepSir! Triple Amen! Problem is, we ain't far behind 'em I fear. No Bonus For You This Quarter! (wink)
ReplyDeleteStaci, my point precisely. I don't know if even building a "better mousetrap" qualifies as "unfair." Sometimes the guy with the inferior product (witness VHS vs. BetaMax) has a better marketing plan...sales force...and consumer appeal.
That's not FAIR! The smart guys shouldn't be able to screw their less aggressive competitors... Sigh...
We are hip deep in a world full of pansies...