The old "Fair Trade" policies were an agreement between a manufacturer that no retailer could sell their product below a minimum "floor" price.
Browning weas one of the worst offenders, and I wouldn't buy a Browning until they rescinded this policy.
The whole concept behind this policy was to prevent competition. IOW, the big store that bought hundreds and hundreds of Brownings per week, and got good prices from Browning, could not pass on those savings to consumers. This was dome to protect the "mom n pop" types who charged FULL MSRP .
IMHO, free, unrestricted "dog eat dog" competition greatly benefits the consumer, and is very much the American way. For that reason, I have decided that I will not buy an Aimpoint, as long as they cling to this protectionist, anti competitive policy.
Thanks to all of you for your responces. I guess now I'll start writing to my congress-critters, asking to have this anti-American, anti-capitalist, anti-consumer practice outlawed.