What is MAP pricing?

MAP stands for Minimum Advertised Price. The MAP is the lowest price at which (online) retailers can advertise a product for sale. This is not to be confused with the price that retailers can actually sell a product for in their store. The MAP only refers to the price that can be shown in advertisements or online stores. Typically, the MAP is set forth in an agreement between manufacturer and reseller. To take an example, imagine Apple having a MAP price of $1,999 for their latest MacBook Pro. If you now want to put the MacBook Pro into an ad for your online store, you’re only allowed to show a price of $1,999 or more. As an online seller, you might be wondering what the penalties for advertising below the MAP are. If you violate the price set forth in the MAP agreement, the manufacturer has the legal right to pull their products from your store and restrict you from selling them again. So if you agreed to sign a MAP agreement, you’re wise not to break it. For brands and manufacturers, the question is how to enforce MAP pricing? To address MAP violations on a product to product basis, identifying MAP violators is the first crucial step. Integrating with Algopix API enables you to continuously monitor your online presence by receiving price points for your products across Amazon, eBay and Walmart marketplaces. This way, you can easily identify any sellers on that are violating MAP agreements. You can then take the necessary steps to enforce your MAP policies.