But in this case it's not the retailer that gets to figure out what the fair price is. In the business I am in we have the same deal. The manufacturer of most of the products set the final customer price. These are also the items that we make the lowest GP on.
So you say, "Well find a different supplier", easier said than done. In the fly shops case, how can you be in business and not carry Rio products? The manufacturer has you where they want you. In my company's case it means 70% of our business. Can't just go find another supplier, it's not that easy.
However, if someone finds a good deal, they can do whatever they want with it. The manufacturer has no controls over them.
So instead of standing up to the manufacturer we scream and cry over what the "wagon peddler" is doing. Nothing against Michael, I've heard this complaint from store managers for close to 15 years. But what everyone needs to do is take a step back and realize that you are loosing very little. Brian is not going to become the Almighty Rio distributor for the area. He will sell what he has and move on to something else and most fly shops in the area will not lose much if anything at all. But it is still a sore spot to the shops that have to follow all the rules.
So good luck Brian (anybody think he will ever post another item for sale on here); and Michael, I can send over a six-pack if it will help calm you down.