UK: Golf club maker hit with CMA fine

The UK arm of an American golf club maker, whose products are used by the likes of Bubba Watson and Lee Westwood, has been fined almost £1.5 million (US$1.9 million) for breaking competition law.

An investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that Ping Europe prevented two UK retailers from selling its golf clubs via their websites. The allegations were initially made by the watchdog in June 2016.

The CMA said that while Ping was pursuing a “genuine commercial aim of promoting in-store custom fitting, it could have been achieved by less restrictive means.”

The regulator fined the business £1.45 million (US$1.87 million) and ruled that the online sales ban must come to an end.

Ann Pope, senior director for antitrust enforcement, added, “The internet is an increasingly important distribution channel and retailers’ ability to sell online, and reach as wide a customer base as possible, should not be unduly restricted.

“The fine the CMA has today imposed on Ping should act as a warning to companies that preventing its products from being sold online could be illegal.”

Full Content: Golf Punk

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