Thursday, July 21, 2005
HP Blocks Expansys From Importing non-European iPAQs
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "NEWS" @ 05:00 PM
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/07/21/hp_wins_grey_case/
"Hewlett-Packard has claimed a knockout win in its High Court action to prevent Manchester-based Expansys importing HP PDAs from outside Europe. HP said Expansys has been ordered to pay “substantial costs and damages”. The case will likely have ramifications for other vendors keen to prevent distributors and resellers sourcing product from outside Europe."
While I think the customer is the one suffering from this, I also think HP has a right to determine what of their product is sold where. Companies spend a lot of money on marketing and logistics to sell their product and when another company sells product on the gray market which hurts the original company's sales, well, I'd side with the manufacturer. It is hard enough competing with your competitors. There is no point in having to compete with yourself.
"Hewlett-Packard has claimed a knockout win in its High Court action to prevent Manchester-based Expansys importing HP PDAs from outside Europe. HP said Expansys has been ordered to pay “substantial costs and damages”. The case will likely have ramifications for other vendors keen to prevent distributors and resellers sourcing product from outside Europe."
While I think the customer is the one suffering from this, I also think HP has a right to determine what of their product is sold where. Companies spend a lot of money on marketing and logistics to sell their product and when another company sells product on the gray market which hurts the original company's sales, well, I'd side with the manufacturer. It is hard enough competing with your competitors. There is no point in having to compete with yourself.
