““retailers can sometimes focus on their competition so much that they are often less astute when buying (i.e. their competitive effort is directed horizontally rather than vertically). In these circumstances it is not unusual for a manufacturer to find that it is possible to raise the list price offered to all retailers without being criticised. The retailers are focusing on the discount from the given list price, as the list price is known to be common to all retailers. Thus, the objective for retailers in the negotiations is to win greater discounts, bonuses, promotions support, delays of payment and so on than other retailers, but not primarily to compete for profit with the manufacturer.””
