MAP Policy

Minimum Advertised Pricing Policy (MAP)

Ace Products Group (APG) is committed to providing its USA and Canada customers with the highest quality products. APG believes that its products should be marketed such that the quality and value of our brands is maintained, and the product lines are supported with a high level of customer service, product education, and support after the sale.

For this reason, APG has unilaterally adopted the following Minimum Advertised Pricing Policy (the “Policy”) effective as of August 1st, 2014. This Policy is not an agreement between the reseller and APG to establish or maintain any particular price on the Products. This Policy is a unilateral statement of the terms upon which APG will conduct business.

This policy covers the reseller’s advertisement of APG products and does not extend to the reseller’s actual resale price, which the reseller sets in its sole discretion.

Benefits of Compliance with the Policy

Resellers who comply with this Policy may be eligible for “Authorized Dealer” status, which may include the limited right to use approved APG trademarks and copyrighted materials in connection with the advertisement and marketing of APG products. Authorized Dealers may also be eligible for a variety of discounts, promotions, or other benefits offered to Authorized Dealers from time to time.

Non-Compliance with the Policy

In the event that a reseller advertises APG products (specifically limited to Rock N Roller®, Reunion Blues ®, and Pig Hog ®) at a price below the MAP prices published in our current price lists, or if a reseller implies that a product is being sold below the MAP price (i.e. “price before discount”), APG will unilaterally take the following action, up to and including:

  1. Loss of any discounts, promotions, or programs offered to the reseller by APG
  2. Loss of Authorized Dealer status and removal from APG websites
  3. Refusal of APG to sell further products to the reseller
  4. The closing of the reseller account with APG


General Guidelines

The Minimum Advertised Price Policy (MAP) will be supplied to reseller in APG price lists, and applies to all forms of advertising of APG products in any and all media, including, but not limited to:

  • Print advertising, including newspapers and magazines;
  • Broadcast advertising on FCC-licensed radio and television;
  • Direct mail advertising, advertising stuffers in monthly statements, including catalogs, flyers, posters, newsletters and broadcast facsimiles;
  • Online or electronic media including promotional email blasts, e-mails or quotes initiated by a reseller, websites, website advertisements, (i.e., banner ads, pop-up ads, etc.), destination pages, third-party websites (such as eBay stores, Amazon.com, Amazon marketplace, etc.), pricing search engines, auction sites, banner advertisements, and phone solicitations; and
  • Outdoor advertising (including billboards and store window or other similar display advertising visible from the exterior of the store).

The MAP policy does not apply to:

  • In-store merchandising or in-store communications between a reseller and its customers;
  • Live, one-on-one telephonic communications initiated by a customer; and
  • Customer initiated e-mails and private, non-automated one-on-one responses to those e-mails.

Pricing Inquiries

Resellers may advertise that customers may call or email the reseller for a price quote. “Call for Price” is limited to a live, one-on-one telephonic communication initiated by a customer. “Email for Price” is limited to a non-automated one-on- one responses to those e-mails.

For the purposes of this Policy, statements such as “Click for Price” or “Add to Cart for Price” are considered to be impermissible advertising.

Online “Shopping Carts”

When a customer physically enters a reseller’s store, the reseller may sell a MAP Product at any price the reseller wishes to the customer. Similarly, when a customer visits a website, places an item in his or her secure/encrypted shopping cart and goes to the checkout screen, he or she has then “entered” the virtual store. At the checkout screen, and only at the checkout screen, the reseller may advertise that the customer may call to receive a discount via a unique, single- use promotional code. The unique, single-use promotional code shall only be provided to the customer in a live, one-on-one telephonic communication initiated by a customer, or via email in a non-automated one-on-one response to a customer-initiated email. Resellers shall not advertise the fact that there is a promotional code anywhere other than the checkout screen. The promotional code itself may not be advertised anywhere.

The following specific guidelines and exceptions will also apply:

a) E-Bay® and Other Auction Web Sites Policy:

  • “Buy it Now” options must be listed at a price equal to MAP or greater.
  • For auctions the reserve and/or opening bids must start at MAP without a “Buy it Now” option.

b) Negotiated Contracts: From time to time it may be explicitly approved by APG in writing to advertise certain products below MAP pricing. The discount amount and length of time will be determined at the time of any such approved promotion by APG.

c) Bundling: APG believes that the bundling of its accessory products with instruments and gear encourages brand awareness, and can add value to a reseller promotion in order to increase sales. APG does not consider bundling with instruments or other gear to be in violation of MAP, provided that the bundle is clearly explained and the APG brand(s) included in the bundle are prominently mentioned. Bundles that include 2 or more MAP protected APG products are allowed, but can not be discounted greater than 20% off of the total MAP price of the items included in the bundle.

d) Freight Allowances by reseller are allowed under the Policy.

e) Discontinued Products: From time to time, APG may discontinue certain products, at which time MAP will no longer apply.

f) Changes to the MAP by APG will be provided with thirty (30) day advance notice to all resellers. Compliance within that timeframe is expected. APG understands that in some cases (such as with printed catalogs), that printed material already in circulation may be in violation of MAP, and that reseller may require additional time to comply. APG expects that reseller will make all reasonable attempts to correct the MAP within the (30) days, or at the earliest date of the next publication of any print catalog, and that any other materials advertising the product be in compliance within thirty (30) days.

Questions regarding the MAP policy can be addressed to dave@aceproducts.com