Bill you are right and you are wrong. You are right that dealers are able to sell for whatever price that they want. You are wrong in that manufacturers have to supply the dealer. If you don't follow the manufacturers pricing policy they no longer sell you product. Many manufacturers also state that you are not allowed to bundle discounts with other products or services. Here is an example, slightly edited for privacy reasons.
Attached pricing list establishes minimum pricing levels for specific products. Listed products must not be bundled with free delivery, installation or other products/services to present the perception of discounts.
Violations are any and all advertisements, offers, proposals, sales, or promotions that list the specified products at less than the minimum allowed price. Note that any resellers are allowed to advertise, offer, propose, sell or promote any and all "Company A" products at any price they desire, however, "Company A" will unilaterally enforce this policy per the penalties listed below.w.
So while it is not against the law for dealers to sell at whatever price, it is also not against the law if manufacturers don't supply the dealer. The Sherman laws still help with monopolies but many companies have pricing policies or "colgate policies". A relatively recent lawsuit was brought forth by a dealer and lost. Look up Leegin vs PSKS. Here is an excerpt from the colgate ruling.
"The purpose of the Sherman Act is to prohibit monopolies, contracts and combinations which probably would unduly interfere with the free exercise of their rights by those engaged, or who wish to engage, in trade and commerce—in a word to preserve the right of freedom to trade. In the absence of any purpose to create or maintain a monopoly, the act does not restrict the long recognized right of trader or manufacturer engaged in an entirely private business, freely to exercise his own independent discretion as to parties with whom he will deal; and, of course, he may announce in advance the circumstances under which he will refuse to sell."
Many companies have these type of policies and do so to maintain there dealers. With margins being down from years ago dealers are looking to preserve even small margins witrh companies that use these policies. Companies can also cut off a dealer for not having a showroom and displaying their product if that is in their policy. I don't know about B&W specifically. But this is not illegal practice.
What is illegal is a monopoly of a product type and the practices that can cause that. Too many to list.. I don't think B&W has anything near a monopoly on the speaker market. Price fixing amongst companies is another illegal act. I believe a few TV manufacturers just got fined for this not too long ago. For agreeing not lower prices below a certain level.
