MAP Policy
Introduction
This Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) Policy is effective as of Oct 12 2020, and applies to all advertisements of select Ideal Security (IDEAL) products by its wholesalers, retailers, dealers, resellers and third party re-sellers (Resellers). IDEAL publishes and maintains its list of (MAP) at https://www.idealinc.com/policies/map. The MAP Policy applies to prices that may be advertised by Resellers and does not restrict the sales price of products.
This policy does not require any agreement from Ideal’s customer.
Reseller responsibility
In the case of a MAP violation by any entity which does not have an authorized relationship with IDEAL and instead purchases IDEAL products from another Reseller (i.e., dealer-to-dealer sale), IDEAL will take actions as provided in this Policy against the Reseller.
Definition of MAP
Although Resellers remain free to establish their own resale prices, this MAP Policy prescribes the lowest price that a Reseller may advertise in any form of advertising, including, but not limited to internet (including “add to cart” and “checkout” pages), print, direct mailing, radio, group or “broadcast” email, group or “broadcast” fax and all other forms of pricing advertisement.
Resellers may not make any statements, displays or communications that indicate, state, imply, or suggest that a lower price may be found at the online check out, including but not limited to: “click here for lower price,” “see lower price in cart,” “add to cart for lower price,” “check cart for lower price,” “chat for price,” “mouse over for price,” “text for price,” “log-in for price,” “e-mail for a better price,” “call for lower price,” or similar language. Such website features as automated “bounce-back” pricing emails, pre-formatted e-mail responses, forms, automatic price display, and other similar features are considered communications initiated by the Reseller (instead of the customer) and constitute “advertising” under this MAP Policy. This MAP Policy also applies to any activity which IDEAL determines is designed or intended to circumvent the intent of this MAP Policy.
The MAP Policy is not applicable to in-store advertising that is displayed only in a physical store location. In-store displays, point-of-sale signs, hangtags, barcodes, QR codes or similar marks on products or product packaging which present the price are not considered “advertising” for purposes of this MAP Policy.
If one or more products from IDEAL are “bundled” or combined in an advertisement, the aggregate price for all IDEAL products offered for sale in the bundle may not be lower than the cumulative MAP for each of the products when sold separately.
Permitted promotions
Permitted under this IMAP policy is Free shipping, We Pay the Tax, or any gift with purchase. Discounts applied at checkout to the entire order for “frequent shoppers” do not violate this policy.
Subject to the Definition of MAP above, it is not a violation to advertise that a customer may “call for price,” “text for price,” or “email for price” as long as no price is listed and no automated call, text message, or “bounce-back” email is used in response. Any direct request for pricing made by an individual prospective purchaser to a Reseller in person or through other deliberate action is considered by IDEAL to be a request for a price quotation from the prospective purchaser to the Reseller, thus MAP does not apply.
From time to time IDEAL may, in its sole and absolute discretion, conduct promotions for products covered by the MAP Policy and allow Resellers to suspend the MAP Policy and list or advertise MAP products at lower prices. In such events, IDEAL reserves the right to modify or suspend the MAP with respect to the promotional products by notifying Resellers of such promotions.
Violations
Advertisements that do not comply with IDEAL’S MAP Policy will be considered a violation. Compliance with the MAP Policy will be determined solely by IDEAL’s MAP Policy administrator.
Trigger | Action |
---|---|
First violation |
IDEAL will, at its initiative, provide written notice of the violation by email. The Reseller will then have 48 hours from the time the email is sent, to correct the violation by bringing the advertisement into compliance or removing the advertisement. |
Second violation or 48 hours from first notice |
IDEAL will, at its initiative, provide a second written notice of the violation by email. The Reseller will have a further 48 hours from the time the email is sent, to correct the violation by bringing the advertisement into compliance or removing the advertisement. |
Third violation or 96 hours from first notice |
IDEAL reserves the right to refuse purchase orders or stop shipments of the specific product(s) in violation until such time as the violation has been corrected. |
Fourth violation or 144 hours from first notice |
IDEAL reserves the right to suspend, on a temporary or permanent basis, shipping of all products, including pending and new orders. |
Confidentiality
This MAP Policy is confidential. IDEAL requests that no Reseller disclose the terms and conditions of this policy.
Protection
IDEAL has adopted this Policy unilaterally in pursuit of its independent business strategy.
This program is managed by the MAP Policy Administrator. IDEAL reserves the right to change, add or delete covered products, and change or cancel the MAP Policy at any time upon written notice to authorized Resellers.
Only the MAP Policy Administrator may provide advice to Resellers concerning compliance with the MAP Policy. No other employee or representative of IDEAL is authorized to modify, interpret, grant exceptions to, or change this Policy for any particular Reseller; nor solicit or obtain the agreement of any person or entity to comply by this Policy; nor otherwise discuss any aspect of this Policy with any Reseller, including that Reseller’s or any other Reseller’s compliance with the terms of this Policy. It is the Reseller’s sole responsibility to remain aware of any changes to the IDEAL MAP Policy.
Questions, concerns, comments, and reports
Any questions about this Policy should be submitted in writing and directed to IDEAL’s MAP Policy Administrator at [email protected]. IDEAL will accept no other form of communication from Resellers regarding the Policy.
MAP violations should be reported to the MAP Policy Administrator at [email protected].