TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Having Writers Block From:"Accentuated Brandname Creativity, Inc." <acreatyv -at- SATURN -dot- NET> Date:Fri, 17 Jan 1997 20:40:00 -0500
>How is asking about competitors' pricing 'not competing?'
>If the manager of Yvonne's Grocery goes into David's Grocery
>to check his prices, is she not competing?
*This* is a no-no: it's the first step toward price-fixing, one
of the anti-trust violations. This does not mean that comparing
rates is always improper, but you've hit on an example that is.
> If you and Yvonne
>both bid on a job, and the client asked Yvonne 'How can you ask
>$N when David only asks $0.8N,' is that 'anti-competitive?'
No. This is okay.
>How does "fair competition" depend on ignorance of
>competitors' pricing?
It doesn't. The issue where those laws are concerned is collusion
(generally assuming considerable market share among those colluding),
not awareness. IOW, in the context we're discussing, anti-trust
is not a factor.
Chuck Brandstater
acreatyv -at- saturn -dot- net
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
