ACCC rejects proposal to set minimum prices for Dewalt power tools

The ACCC has rejected a proposal by Stanley Black & Decker to set a minimum advertised price for Dewalt brand power tools, accessories and attachments.

Stanley Black & Decker lodged a resale price maintenance notification on 17 October 2019 and on 27 March 2020 the ACCC issued a draft notice proposing to revoke; no submissions were received.

The ACCC did not accept the proposal would have resulted in a net public benefit; even though there may have been some public benefit if it led to some retailers offering a bigger range of these products, this would likely have been offset by an increase in prices.

See ACCC media release.

See RPM register.

See also:

• Ryan Macquart, ‘No minimum price for Dewalt Power Tools’ (King&Wood Mallesons, In Competition, 15 June 2020)

• Sar Katdare, Jaime Campbell and Sean Lally, ‘Which RPM notifications have been successful and why?’ (Johnson, Winter & Slattery, August 2020)