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Cartel in musical instruments: fines against Yamaha, Roland and Fender

2021-08-05T12:44:24.751Z


Cartel in the musical instrument industry: Well-known manufacturers and dealers are said to have agreed prices over several years. Now a million dollar fine has been imposed on them.


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Violins at dealers (symbol picture): prohibited minimum sales prices

Photo: imago images / nioloxs

They are said to have been negotiating prices for years, to the detriment of consumers: the Federal Cartel Office has imposed fines on manufacturers and dealers of musical instruments.

Specifically, they are directed against the three manufacturers Yamaha, Roland and Fender as well as against the two dealers Thomann and Music Store, said the authority.

All of them and responsible employees pay a total of 21 million euros.

"The manufacturers have at least urged the leading specialist retailers Thomann and Music Store not to fall below the fixed minimum sales prices, which they did in many cases," said the President of the Cartel Office, Andreas Mundt.

"In addition, the dealers have made agreements with each other in individual cases about price increases for individual products."

According to the authority, the proceedings had started in April 2018 with a search "for clues from the market."

According to the Federal Cartel Office, Yamaha, Roland, Fender, Thomann and Music Store cooperated in clearing up the agreements.

The procedure was concluded by amicable termination of the procedure, and the notices of fines were final.

fdi / AFP

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2021-08-05

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