Halcyon BCD

[WJL]

I don't have any inside information, but I am confident that Halcyon does not have a resale price maintenance policy, because if it did it would like be violating the antitrust laws.

Having worked in the antitrust field for more than 25 years, let me assure you that resale price maintenance is not a per se violation of U.S. antirust laws, and is routinely considered to be completely legal. Past decisions from the 1940's condemning resale price maintenance were overturned decades ago. Nowadays the only time resale price maintenance has antitrust implications is when the percentage share of the relevant market affected by the price restraints reaches monopoly proportions - far beyond 50%. If Halcyon controlled the market for scuba products to the same degree Microsoft controls the market for operating systems, then it would have to worry about imposing resale price maintenance on its dealers. Short of that, it's off the hook.

 

[Stirling]

Well, apparently I shouldn't have been so confident that Halcyon did not have an actual resale price maintenance policy - and apparently I also garbled what I meant to write, which was that I thought it "likely" would be a violation of the antitrust laws (not "like be" a violation).

But the reason I thought it wasn't likely is that I doubted that Halcyon truly had an interest in enforcing resale prices through its dealers, and whether such a policy wouldn't really be a case of the dealers *and* the manufacturer agreeing to fix resale prices, with what is truly the dealers' horizontal agreement not to compete on price being enforced through the manufacturer (i.e., not a truly unilateral and vertical pricing policy from the manufacturer). I notice that the policy linked to by whoever answered me earlier referred to an "agreement" between Halcyon, the manufacturer, and Extreme Exposure - which is listed as one of Halcyon's top retailers. I don't do antitrust work, but that still strikes me as a little bit odd. I also noticed that the "policy" was surprisingly vague about what it actually requires.

I was under the impression that these pricing policies had pretty much gone away in the U.S. (I knew there could still be some use of Colgate policies, but thought they would be very rare), and that the DOJ and FTC skepticism about the legitimacy of such policies was the major reason why. Apparently they're still around. Just goes to show you can learn something new every day. Thanks

On edit: I just went back and checked, and the policy doesn't actually use the word "agreement" - this is what I was remembering: "Toward this goal, Halcyon and Extreme Exposure are introducing their Fair Trade Price (FTP) to provide you with an accurate listing of our equipment's retail price. The FTP isn't a bloated MSRP figure that has been inflated to allow for "artificial" discounting. Instead, it is a no hassle, no haggle price that reflects the true quality and value of Halcyon and Extreme Exposure gear." http://www.halcyon.net/ftp/ftp.shtml

 

[Flamebug818]

the halyvon bpw is great it is a bit hard to get used adjusted but is is comfortable and built like a tank
i have a 36lb pioneer and couldn't be happier

 

[diverkim]

the thing i am afraid about is that DIR BCDs force one into a horizontal position. how is this for the Halcyon?

 

[Soggy]

the thing i am afraid about is that DIR BCDs force one into a horizontal position. how is this for the Halcyon?

Why would you be afraid of that?

 

[Diver0001]

the thing i am afraid about is that DIR BCDs force one into a horizontal position. how is this for the Halcyon?

It doesn't force you to be horizontal. By design a wing tends to make being horizontal a little more comfortable for a lot of divers but that doesn't stop you from doing whatever you want.

R..

 

[Hoosier]

So, Halcyon divers,

You don't experience any wing problem that can be punctured by the plate?
Does Halcyon keep no warranty policy on their wing?

I found out a thread about this issue above posted about two years ago.

http://www.scubaboard.com/t44258-how-halcyon-lost-my-biz-to-fredt.html

How do you think? Is there any improvement after then?

Best,

 

[Tollie]

There are no sharp edges on the plate that can put a hole in the wing. The wing of course like any bladder can be breached by a sharp piece of metal or perhaps by sustained brush with coral. The halcyon wings are exceptionally strong. IMO the halcyon product is simply the best.

 

[Laser]

So, Halcyon divers,

You don't experience any wing problem that can be punctured by the plate?
Does Halcyon keep no warranty policy on their wing?

I found out a thread about this issue above posted about two years ago.

http://www.scubaboard.com/t44258-how-halcyon-lost-my-biz-to-fredt.html

How do you think? Is there any improvement after then?

Best,

I have a pioneer with around 150 dives on it. A bit of stitching has come undone fom one of the seems and thats about it. I also have an explorer 55lb with about the same, and it's good as new but for a little fading. I like the performance, and wouldn't hesitate to buy again. Haven't tried the eclipse single yet.

 

[Laser]

the thing i am afraid about is that DIR BCDs force one into a horizontal position. how is this for the Halcyon?

I'm thinking that you mean while on the surface? If so that simply isn't the case.