前澳洲斯沃琪總經理日前指控斯沃琪集團在他任職期間不當的逼迫他要求錶店必須按照斯沃琪規定的價格販售, 並且不得給予折扣, 只要違反斯沃琪規定就會予以停貨. 他指稱這樣做違反澳洲法律... (不知道有沒有違反台灣的法律?)
文中特別指出斯沃琪用保持高價不的方式來營造 Omega 尊貴感...
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出處: http://www.theage.com.au/national/swatch-is-ripping-you-off-exboss-20091107-i2w0.html
Swatch is ripping you off: ex-boss
MICHAEL BACHELARD
November 8, 2009
PEOPLE who pay $4000 for an Omega watch may be paying an inflated price that has been illegally set to maintain the brand's exclusivity, according to the man who used to run the company.
Mark Watson, who until November last year was general manager of the Australian branch of Swatch Group, has accused his former company of price fixing.
Mr Watson was marched out of the company's Glen Iris head office last November because, he says, he refused to break the law by forcing retailers to charge the company's preferred retail price and not to offer discounts.
He is now suing his former employer, the world's largest watchmaker, in the County Court for loss and damages.
Retailers have claimed to The Sunday Age that the Swatch Group's practice of retail price maintenance is alive and well. One said his business was currently being punished with higher wholesale prices because he had discounted their products.
Swatch brands also include Breguet, Tiffany & Co, Longines, Rado and Tissot.
Mr Watson told The Sunday Age that the international bosses of the Swiss watch leader consistently demanded that he stop retailers from discounting the company's brands.
If a retailer did offer a lower price, Mr Watson was told to stop distributing stock to them, or to charge them a higher wholesale price, so their margin was crimped and they were unable to discount.
The Trade Practices Act prevents such activity, because "fixing, controlling or maintaining" prices constitutes a "substantial lessening of competition".
Sydney lawyers Piggott Stinson confirm that "resellers are entitled to advertise and sell products at whatever price they see fit regardless of any benefit or threat by the supplier".
But Mr Watson said that when he had pointed this out to his Swiss boss Yann Gamard, he had thumped the table and shouted "the law in Australia is stupid".
Mr Watson was eventually sacked because, despite his business success with the company, he came to be seen as a troublesome employee.
"They like to have puppet-like figures around the world," Mr Watson said.
Swatch Group Australia spokeswoman Renee King said: "I've just been told to make no comment."
The company is fighting Mr Watson's claim.
Mr Watson said Swatch had wanted to maintain high retail price tags, particularly on premium brands such as Omega, to maintain their reputation for exclusivity.
"They've got the best range in the world, no question, but their corporate position is one of being above the law, and being wealthy enough to have this very arrogant attitude towards things and people that get in their way," Mr Watson said.
European Union documents show Swatch has had similar problems in the past.
In 2005, the Danish branch of the company, and its chief executive, were fined almost $A50,000 between them for entering agreements with retailers obliging them to sell for the company's preferred retail price, without discounts. This breached Danish competition law.
Mr Watson's case is due to go to a hearing late this month.
cedarwood 在 星期二 2009-11-10 15:38 作了第 1 次修改
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cedarwood
白金會員 |
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peicheng
白金會員 |
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Chris16570
中級會員 |
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time
資深會員 |
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submariner3135
終極會員 |
A brand of mass production to maintain "reputation for exclusivity".......!? |
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tomy999
白金會員 |
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cedarwood
白金會員 |
Well... Is Rolex a brand of mass production? Yes. Does Rolex have a reputation for exclusivity? Yes. 或許 Omega 真的就是想走 Rolex 的路線... |
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tomy999
白金會員 |
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BORSCHE
中級會員 |
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tomy999
白金會員 |
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