Are you an eCommerce brand owner or channel manager or a sales manager struggling with unauthorized sellers undercutting your prices? Do you see your products popping up on marketplaces like eBay, Amazon and Walmart with suspiciously low prices and poor customer reviews? You’re not alone. We’ve spoken with countless brands, from billion-dollar giants to thriving mid-market businesses, and the challenge is consistent: controlling Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) violations is a constant battle.
From pet care to electronics, apparel to home décor industry – the story is the same. We have seen brands expand their distribution only to find their products being sold by illegitimate sellers that tarnish their brand reputation and erode profit margins. If you’re searching for a Map Policy Management solution, you’ve likely encountered a sea of options, from free tools to enterprise-level platforms. Let’s cut through the noise and explore how to effectively protect your brand and revenue.
The MAP Enforcement Challenge
The digital marketplace is a double-edged sword. While it offers unprecedented reach, it also exposes your brand to unauthorized sellers who can wreak havoc on your pricing and brand strategy. These sellers often:
- Undercut your MAP price. They offer your products at drastically lower prices, triggering price wars and eroding profit margins.
- Damage your brand reputation. They sell counterfeit or damaged goods leading to negative reviews and customer complaints.
- Create channel conflict. They frustrate authorized resellers who adhere to your MAP policies.
- Dilute your brand’s search presence. They confuse shoppers with inconsistent map pricing across various online platforms like Amazon. This requires special map enforcement on Amazon.
According to industry data, brands that fail to enforce MAP policies can experience a significant drop in revenue and a decline in brand equity. The problem is real, and the stakes are high.
What type of a MAP Monitoring Solution Buyer are you?
Though hundreds of conversations, we’ve found two types of MAP monitoring solution buyers:
1. The Newcomer: Seeking Guidance and Avoiding Pitfalls
These individuals are new to MAP enforcement. They’re often overwhelmed by the sheer volume of online channels and the complexity of pricing strategies. They’re actively searching on search engines like Google, and Bing, and even using AI tools like ChatGPT to find solutions. They’re bombarded with many options, including free or cheap tools that promise quick fixes.
Here’s what they need:
- Accurate Data: They need to avoid the “junk in, junk out” scenario. Inaccurate data leads to wasted time and damaged reseller relationships.
- Guidance and Best Practices: They want to learn how to implement and enforce MAP policies effectively. They’re looking for expert advice on setting MAP holidays, determining which products to include in MAP agreements, and understanding regional nuances.
- Time Savings: They don’t want to spend hours sifting through spreadsheets and manually tracking prices. They need a map monitoring solution that automates the process and provides clear, actionable insights.
2. The Experienced Buyers: Seeking a Better and Enterprise-Level Solution
This group has been using MAP monitoring software for years. They have established processes and teams dedicated to MAP enforcement. However, they’re often frustrated with their current solutions due to lack of data quality, tool flexibility and ‘getting stuck’ syndrome for their inability to get answers they want.
Here’s what they’re looking for: