SimplyBRANDS™ Minimum Advertised Price Policy (MAP)
The SimplyBRANDS™ Minimum Advertised Price (“MAP”) Policy is designed to protect the interests of SimplyBRANDS™ Authorized Distributors (“SBAD”) and SimplyBRANDS™ Value-Added Resellers (“SBVAR”), maintain the long-term strength and reputation of the SimplyBRANDS™ brand, and preserve the profitability of SimplyBRANDS™ products throughout the distribution channel.
This MAP Policy supports consistent marketing practices that accurately communicate the value of SimplyBRANDS™ products and helps ensure fair competition among authorized distributors and resellers.
Resale Prices
SimplyBRANDS™ recognizes that all authorized distributors and resellers remain free to independently determine the prices at which they sell SimplyBRANDS™ products. This MAP Policy applies solely to advertised prices and does not restrict actual resale prices.
Advertised Prices
To maintain a level playing field in the marketplace, SimplyBRANDS™ has established Minimum Advertised Prices for all covered products.
Authorized distributors and resellers agree that they will not advertise any SimplyBRANDS™ product below the current MAP price published in the SimplyBRANDS™ Distributor Price List.
Failure to comply with this MAP Policy may result in suspension or termination of authorized distributor or reseller status and may result in the loss of eligibility to purchase SimplyBRANDS™ products, as outlined under the “Penalties” section of this Policy.
Covered Products
Unless otherwise specified in writing by SimplyBRANDS™, all SimplyBRANDS™ products listed in the current SimplyBRANDS™ Distributor Price List are subject to this MAP Policy.
Policy Violations
The following actions constitute violations of this MAP Policy:
- Multiple Locations
If a reseller operates multiple retail or online locations and a violation occurs at any location, SimplyBRANDS™ may treat the violation as applicable to all locations operated by that reseller.
- Use of Alternate Business Names (DBAs)
Operating under an alternate business name (DBA) and advertising below MAP constitutes a violation of this Policy.
All DBA names used to market or sell SimplyBRANDS™ products must be disclosed to and approved by SimplyBRANDS™ in advance.
- Advertising Below MAP
Advertising a SimplyBRANDS™ product at a price below the applicable MAP price in any form of advertising constitutes a violation of this Policy. This Policy applies to all forms of advertising, including but not limited to:
- Printed flyers
- Posters
- Coupons
- Mailers and inserts
- Catalogs and mail-order catalogs
- Websites and online marketplaces
- Email newsletters and solicitations
- Social media platforms
- Public signage
- Any other electronic or digital media
- Online Advertising Practices
The following online practices are considered advertising and are therefore subject to this MAP Policy:
- “Click for Price” features
- Automated pricing emails
- Bounce-back pricing messages
- Pre-formatted email responses displaying pricing
- Website pricing visible before a product is placed into a shopping cart
- Any similar functionality that communicates pricing initiated by the reseller rather than the customer
- Circumvention of MAP
Any activity that SimplyBRANDS™ determines, in its sole discretion, is intended to circumvent the spirit or intent of this MAP Policy constitutes a violation.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Group purchase solicitations
- Coordinated buying programs
- Hidden discounts designed to avoid MAP compliance
- Any advertising practice intended to effectively promote pricing below MAP
Penalties
SimplyBRANDS™ enforces this MAP Policy under a zero-tolerance framework.
First Violation
- The distributor or reseller account will be notified of the violation.
- The distributor or reseller account will be given 24 hours to fix the violation or be moved to Second Violation
Second Violation
- The distributor or reseller account will be placed on immediate hold.
- No orders will be processed or shipped until the violation has been corrected and compliance has been verified by SimplyBRANDS™.
- The account will remain on hold indefinitely until compliance is achieved.
Repeat Violations
- Authorized distributor or reseller status will be terminated.
- The account will no longer be eligible to purchase SimplyBRANDS™ products.
- Reinstatement, if any, shall be at the sole discretion of SimplyBRANDS™.
Policy Administration
SimplyBRANDS™ reserves the exclusive right to interpret, administer, and enforce this MAP Policy.
To report a violation or have a question regarding the Policy, you can email SimplyBRANDS™ at map@simplybrands.com. No employee, sales representative, distributor, or reseller is authorized to modify or grant exceptions to this Policy unless approved in writing by SimplyBRANDS™.
Changes to Policy
SimplyBRANDS™ reserves the right to amend, modify, suspend, or discontinue this MAP Policy at any time and without prior notice.
Continued purchase, distribution, or resale of SimplyBRANDS™ products following any revision to this Policy shall constitute acceptance of the revised terms.