Off -- you say you want to run your LDS by your business model -- buy why shouldn't AL be permitted the same right -- to run its business by its model? Why should you have a greater right than AL?
Peter is right on this. We all want complete freedom to buy the best products at the lowest price with a lifetime warranty and unparalleled customer service. But how much are we willing to pay for it? What will you as the consumer, be willing to give up in order to get a lower initial purchase price?
As a car dealer and at one time a Saturn retailer, I'll relate a short story.
Saturn newly minted MBA's felt sure that customers did not like negotiating for a car. They felt so strongly about this that they put it in the franchise agreement that their retailers would not advertise or negotiate any price but the MSRP. However, we were allowed to negotiate any other aspect of the deal.
Well as it turns out, customers want to negotiate, despite what the surveys said. Now Saturn retailers will advertise and negotiate on their cars but this change in policy comes too late for many retailers.
As it stands, SP and AL both feel that their products deserve to be sold at retail. It is their decision. What they don't control is our decision on what products to buy and from whom. Saturn took too long to figured this out, to their demise and too the demise of many of its retailers.