Kevin,

I very much agree with some of your points.

FWIW, I would like to point out I'm not really "siding with BowTech's policies" because I had these same feelings about protected dealers and such before BowTech was born. I've been involved with retail shops for a few years and have felt this way all along.

Let's pretend for a minute that you only have a retail store and you never set up an online store...Would you really still feel this way? Honestly? I know that would be hard to answer...But I myself having never owning a shop know how I would answer that question.

Better yet let's pretend Merlin didn't allow internet sales, would you still be a dealer for them?

Just out of curiosity what bow lines do you carry in your retail shop and which ones allow internet sales and which ones don't? Or don't you carry any lines that don't allow internet sales?

I see nothing wrong with being able to buy a bow (or anything else for that matter) over the net that you could also buy in Wal Mart or such type chain stores...But when a product is exclusive to archery shops/pro shops I say leave it alone.

I'm very aware of the benefits of internet sales "in some cases" and I'm not against internet sales of everything...It has it's place.

In short, I guess I see it like this. BowTech has approx. 600 (+ or -) happy dealers. If they're not happy or agreeable with the dealer policies why would they have chosen to sell the line? Not too many have ever complained about the no internet sales policy.

JMHO, <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>