Priscilla wrote:

> In the past, I was under the impression that sharing prices was akin to
> price fixation and that was taboo.  I'm sure others have had that
> impression and is probably why people are not sharing their prices.  Also I
> was under the impression that different areas of the country have
> adjustments in pricing according to cost of living etc.

    There is also talk (and accusations) of "price fixing" on the Microscopy
Soc. of America list. Often someone will ask "how much does your lab charge for
XY proceedure" and a few people will scream "price fixing". I have no legal
training but I do think some common sense is called for. We do have free speech
in this country, inquiring about a price  is not a crime. I can set prices
wherever I want for the services I provide. Furthermore, I don't think putting
the two together is a crime. The next time someone makes the price fixing
accusation I would like to see an exact quote (chapter and verse from the penal
code) of just what price fixing is. I suspect that the accusers are just trying
to supress competition.
    I notice that a pound of ground beef costs about the same at all of the
supermarkets in my neighborhood. Price fixing??

Geoff
--
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Geoff McAuliffe, Ph.D.
Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854
voice: (732)-235-4583; fax: -4029
mcauliff@umdnj.edu
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