Castle Creations
MAPP (Minimum Advertised Price Policy)
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
In order to preserve its reputation for providing customers with high value products and strong after-sales support, and to further enhance the Castle Creations brand image and its competitiveness in the marketplace, Castle Creations has instituted a policy of minimum advertised price standards for specified Castle Creations products. The MAPP applies to distributors and retailers, including catalogs and internet retailers (collectively, “Resellers”), who resell Castle Creations products to end users located in the United States.
Castle Creations greatly values the efforts of all Resellers to distribute Castle Creations products and support our customers. This MAP Policy is adopted for the benefit of all Resellers and will be uniformly enforced.
This MAP Policy shall work under the following guidelines:
1. Castle Creations will, from time to time, publish a Distributor and/or Dealer price list, which may be amended or adjusted by Castle Creations at any time in its sole discretion. The MSRP Schedule contained therein will identify the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (“MSRP”) for all products contained within the price list. The Minimum Advertised Price (“MAP”) for any Castle Creations product identified in the MSRP Schedule shall be no less than 15% below the then-current MSRP specified for that item. Any advertisement of a product identified in the MSRP Schedule which is more than 15% below the then-current MSRP will be a violation of this MAP Policy.
2. This MAP Policy applies to all advertisements of Castle Creations products listed on the then-existing MSRP Schedule in any and all media, luding, but not limited to, flyers, posters, coupons, mailers, inserts, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, mail order catalogs, e-mail newsletters, e-mail solicitations, internet or similar electronic media (luding websites, social media, auction sites and paid search), television, radio, and public signage. This MAP Policy is not applicable to any in-store advertising that is displayed only in the store and not distributed to any customer.
3. “Bundling” or the illusion in advertising of free or discounted products (whether made by Castle Creations or another manufacturer) with a product covered by this MAP Policy would be contrary to this MAP Policy if it has the effect of discounting the advertised price of the covered Castle Creations. product more than 15% below the MSRP. An offer of a gift card or coupon for a future purchase is considered “bundling” under the MAP policy and any such offer must not have the effect of discounting the advertised price of the included Castle Creation. product more than 15% below the MSRP.
4. If pricing is displayed in any advertisement, any strike-through or other alteration of the MSRP paired with a discount price more that 15% below the MSRP is prohibited.
5. This MAP Policy applies only to advertised prices and does not apply to the price at which Castle Creations products are sold or offered for sale to an individual consumer within Resellers’ retail location, event location, including on an e-commerce-enabled website, or over the telephone. Resellers remain free to sell these products at any prices they choose under these circumstances.
6. This MAP Policy does not establish maximum advertised prices. All Resellers may offer Castle Creations. products at any price in excess of the MSRP.
7. Internet auctions may not display or have a starting bid, minimum bid, reserved bid or other acceptable prices more than 15% below the MSRP.
8. Pricing listed on an internet site is considered an “advertised price” and must adhere to this MAP Policy. Once the pricing is associated with an intent to purchase (added to the consumer’s online shopping cart or order), the price becomes the selling price and is not bound by this MAP Policy. Statements such as “add to basket to see price”, “we will match any price”, “call for price” or phrases of similar import are acceptable as long as the price advertised or listed for the products is not more than 15% below the MSRP. In addition, discounts applied at checkout to the entire order based on a customer’s purchasing history with the Reseller, such as discounts for “frequent shoppers”, do not violate this MAP Policy.
9. From time to time, Castle Creations may discontinue certain products. Discontinued Product Notices will be electronically communicated to Castle Creations main distribution channels. Castle Creations. reserves the right to modify or suspend the then-current MAP retail price with respect to the affected products for a specified period of time by providing advance notice to all Resellers of such changes. In such circumstances, Castle Creations may permit Resellers to advertise such discontinued products at prices lower than the MAP retail price.
10. From time to time and at the sole discretion of Castle Creations, Resellers may be permitted to advertise at prices lower than the MAP retail price. Resellers are allowed two, 15 (consecutive) days below MAP sales periods, in a calendar year. Resellers must register the sale, prior to the commencement of any sale period and receive affirmative confirmation from MAP Administrator, at www.castlecreations.com/MAPsaleregistration to ensure continued compliance with the MAP Policy.
11. This MAP Policy is solely within Castle Creations discretion and authority acting through the duly authorized managers of Castle Creations. No other employee or sales representative of Castle Creations has any authority to discuss, modify or grant exceptions to this MAP Policy. Any representation or action by any employee, sales representative or persons not specifically authorized to discuss, modify or grant exceptions to this MAP Policy under this paragraph is unauthorized and invalid. All questions about this MAP Policy should be in writing and directed via U.S. Mail to MAP Policy Administrator, Castle Creations, 540 N. Rogers Rd. Olathe, KS 66062 or via e-mail to: mapadmin@castlecreations.com who will respond only in writing. Any action taken by Castle Creations under this MAP Policy shall be without liability to Castle Creations.
12. Intentional and/or repeated failure to abide by this MAP Policy will result in sanctions unilaterally imposed by Castle Creations. The level of sanctions will be determined by Castle Creations in its sole discretion and may include indefinite termination of dealership or distributorship. If a Reseller with multiple locations violates this MAP Policy at any location, Castle Creations will consider that a violation by all locations. Castle Creations does not intend to do business with Resellers who degrade the image of Castle Creations. and its products and need not provide prior notice or issue warnings before taking any action under this MAP Policy. It is Castle Creations intent to engage in monitoring of advertised prices directly and/or using third parties.
13. Distributors of Castle Creations products will supply a copy of this MAP Policy to any new or existing Reseller for their records.
14. The terms of this MAP Policy are confidential and should not be disclosed to other parties.
This MAP Policy has been established by Castle Creations to help ensure the legacy of Castle Creations as a top producer of high performance, high quality products and to protect the reputation of its name and products. This MAP Policy is also designed to avoid destructive intra-brand conflict and to ensure that dealers and distributors have the incentive to invest resources into services for Castle Creations customers.
15. Castle Creations may change or cancel this policy at any time.
To request a current listing of Castle Creations. MAP products, please email mapadmin@castlecreations.com.
MAP violations can be reported here: https://forms.gle/cg8Nv1xeSBZermNR9
Request List of Castle products with MAP pricing: mapadmin@castlecreations.com
