Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

This arrived in email today:

#10 CANS ARE BACK

To place an order click here or go to

www.mountainhouse.com

“FREE”
Mountain Oven Flameless Heating Kit
with any $25.00 order

“Thank you for your support and patience during these last several months. We really appreciate your business!”

Sincerely,

OREGON FREEZE DRY INC.
CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT
1-800-547-0244

Thats the good news. The bad news is that MH has apparently decided that you can order pouches of product all day long but they are going to guard their #10-packaged product like it was gold. Dealer requirements, minimum pricing and , of course, a new pricing schedule.

Heres part of the dealer pricing program info:

I am pleased to let you know that we can start taking #10 can orders
from you again. You do not need to re-apply based on our phone
conversation. However, I have two things I need to let you know about:

Pricing – We did have a price increase on our cans. We will need you
to update all of your pricing based on the attached price list.

Discounting – We no longer allow any discounting on our #10 cans,
except for short sales as explained in the policy. I have attached the
policy in regards to our can pricing. We will need this policy letter
signed and sent back to us prior to your first order. In addition, as
stated in our new policy, we will allow short sales 3x a year on our cans.
However, we must have a sale event form sent to us prior to the sale.
I have attached that form as well.

Please note that we are strongly enforcing this policy and those not
following the new policy, their account will be suspended immediately.

Thank you so much for your patience during these last 3 months. I know
it has been hard to adjust and we are continuing to do everything we
can to stay ahead of cans.

What are those policies? Lets look:

Effective September 1, 2008

Oregon Freeze Dry requires retailers selling Mountain House products to maintain a high level of service quality, product knowledge and professionalism.

Oregon Freeze Dry has determined that resale of Mountain House products below the Suggested Retail Price has a negative impact on its goal of maintaining retailer service, quality, product knowledge and professionalism, reduces consumer satisfaction with Mountain House products and damages the image of Mountain House. Accordingly, it is the policy of Oregon Freeze Dry that Mountain House products be marketed and sold for no less than the Suggested Retail Price, except for short periodic sales and promotions, as described below.

Failure of any dealer to comply with this Minimum Retail Price Program will result in cancellation of existing orders without prior notice and/or termination or suspension of the dealer relationship.

Please be additionally advised:
Ø Mountain House staff monitors the worldwide web regularly and enforces this agreement strictly.
Ø Mountain House publishes the Suggested Minimum Retail Price and it is available on the Mountain House printed price list.
Ø This policy does not apply to product or special packs, which have been discontinued or sold as excess or over runs.

Periodic Sales and Promotion Guidelines:
Ø Maximum of 3 sales per year allowed
Ø A discount is not to exceed 25% off SRP
Ø A sale can not exceed 14 days in length
Ø An official “Sale Event Notice Form” must be filled out and submitted to Mountain House prior to any sale event

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT

By signing below, you acknowledge your receipt of the Oregon Freeze Dry Minimum Retail Price Program Policy:
Account Name:
Account Signature:
Date:

Amazing, isn’t it? Im a firm believer in free enterprise so, to me, once you buy a product from your vendor you should be free to re-sell that product however you want. On the other hand, these guys are, generally, the only game in town so playing ball by their rules is kind of necessary.

I’m on the fence about whether Im going to go through all this effort and headache to put together another group purchase. Last year I needed at least $2000 to get the free shipping, so we’ll see if theyre at least still offering that. They have added some new products but I dont really need more freezedrieds although Id like to have some more to round out the current stockpile. Guess I’ll just see how things go and see if any of the local LMI have any interest. Local LMI, and you know who you are, can check with me at your convenience.