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How to Determine the Value of a Used Forklift

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Assigning a monetary value to a used forklift for sale proves to be a difficult task at best. As a seller, you want to make a small profit out of your initial investment, but not scare off potential buyers with an overpriced offer. As a buyer, you do not want to overvalue or overpay a forklift that may need additional maintenance, parts or other expenses.

Pricing is subjective and depends on many factors. When determining the value of a forklift, note down all the information you know about it so you can see where to make price deductions, and where the price could increase due to a special feature or recent part replacement.

Forklift Age (In Years)

The age of the forklift is one of the biggest determining factors when it comes to price. Because machine prices (like car values) depreciate at an almost exponential rate from the sticker price when they’re brand new, you can look up a new model of your machine and deduct the price from there. On average, a forklift will depreciate up to 15% per year. Use this as your base price before you start adding or deducting value based on other factors.

Usage & History

You can have two of the exact same forklifts made in the same year that have vastly different value because one’s usage and treatment history is a lot better than the other. For example, if you have a 2007-made forklift that was running 20 hours per day lifting heavy concrete in freezing cold temperatures, and an identical model that was only used 7-8 hours per day lifting lighter loads in an e-commerce warehouse, the second will have a much higher value than the first.

Forklift usage is logged in hours, and the way you compare forklift hours for the machine’s value is very similar to the way you would compare mileage on cars of the same age. Key hours on a forklift count the number of hours the forklift has been turned on, but deadman hours (often considered the more accurate measure) count the number of hours an operator has actually used the forklift to either lift or transport materials.

Features

Extra features almost always add value to your forklift. For example, if your forklift has a computerized control panel instead of a standard manual one, this will add value. Other features that add value include scales that weigh your loads automatically and in transit, attachments sold with the forklift, and air conditioned cabs, to name a few. Basically, anything that does not come standard on a new model is considered an additional feature that adds value.

To calculate the value any one feature adds, figure out the new price of this feature if you were to add it onto a current forklift, then deduct some value for age and the fact that it is being sold as a package deal with a used forklift.

Current Condition

The current condition of a forklift depends on how well it was taken care of until the point of re-sale. A machine with the paint job still intact will be worth hundreds of dollars more than the same model that has rust spots all over. The seller of a machine with a clean, well-maintained engine can ask for a higher price than a guy who ran his machine ragged and now has problems getting it to start. Additionally, any parts that have recently been replaced add a little bit of value to the machine because the buyer knows they’re getting something that won’t cost them extra money right away.

The most important thing to do when determining the value of a forklift is to communicate all the details of the forklift’s past and maintenance upkeep. When you have all the details present, you can make the most informed decisions about value calculations and the overall worth of the machine. Keep in mind that there are no set rules for exactly how much a used forklift should cost, and a lot will also depend on the supply and demand of used forklifts in your area.

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Source by Jessica Howle

3 Must Have Essential Oils to Calm Your Pet

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The reason I love animals so much is that they give off an attitude of happiness, innocence and unconditional love to their people.  Our pets are just as happy being a part of our household as we are of having them with us.

But sometimes an animal comes into our life that is a bit “out there!”

For instance, the dog that has an irrational fear of rain and won’t for the life of him go outside to potty during a rain shower.  Or the cat who hides for hours when a friend comes over.  Or, how about the dog with attachment issues that destroys the house while you’re at work?  Any of these sound familiar?

My cat’s, Sammie and Max, love to hang out on our screened-in patio.  But whenever the garbage truck comes rolling in, they flee for their lives!

It might sound crazy to us, but whatever your animal’s fears or wacky behaviors may be, they are completely legitimate in their minds.

Using essential oils on your animals can really take the edge off of their anxiety, big time!

Because of an animal’s heightened senses, they respond very well to essential oils.  In the wild, animals eat specific plants to heal themselves.  In captivity (our homes), the plant kingdom is not readily available.  Using essential oils on your pet gives them access to the vast healing properties of nature.

The three best essential oils to calm your pets are:

Lavender

Roman Chamomile

Peace & Calming® (a blend from Young Living)

These essential oils can be used to support your animal with; fear of rain and thunderstorms, separation anxiety, hyperactivity, trauma/abuse, depression, Illness, trips to the vet’s office, grief/loss of another family pet and any other situation that causes great stress for your animal, such as garbage trucks!

When you apply essential oils to animals, always remember less is more as animals are very sensitive to essential oils.

Also, with animals, it’s best to dilute essential oils with a carrier oil such as organic olive oil.  I recommend one part essential oil to 1 part carrier oil for all animals EXCEPT cats. The dilution ratio for cats is 1 part essential oil to 10 parts carrier oil.

Use caution with cats!

Any of the essential oils listed in this article are safe for dogs and horses, however; cats are a different story! Cats are extremely sensitive to essential oils containing phenols, such as oregano and thyme. Cats can not effectively metabolize phenols because they lack an enzyme in their liver to digest the phenols. Avoid Peace & Calming® essential oil blend on your cat, as it does contain phenols. Lavender and Roman Chamomile essential oils ARE safe for cats.

How to apply essential oils on dogs, horses and cats:

For calming dogs:

Mix 1 drop Lavender, Roman Chamomile or Peace & Calming® essential oil with 1 drop carrier oil.  Rub this mixture on your dogs pads, ears or comb through their fur.  Apply any time you sense your dog is stressed.

For calming horses:

Mix 1 drop Lavender, Roman Chamomile or Peace & Calming® essential oil with 1 drop carrier oil. Rub this mixture on your horse’s muzzle, ears or cornet bands. Apply any time your horse is stressed.

For calming cats:

Mix 1 drop Lavender or Roman Chamomile essential oil with 10 drops carrier oil. Rub this mixture on your cat’s pads, ears or comb through their fur. Apply any time your cat is stressed.

By the way, the essential oils in this article are also good for easing your anxieties, too!  Dilution is not required on humans.  Just apply a drop or two on your wrists, shoulders or behind your ears.

And the next time you’re opening up a bottle of lavender essential oil, share some with your animal friends!  They’ll thank you!

© 2008 Christa McCourt

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Source by Christa McCourt

Personal Injury And Car Accident Attorneys

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Mishaps are quite common in the world that we live in. However, this doesn’t mean that the confusion and the pain that comes as a result is avoided altogether when such things happen to a loved one or even you. If you want to take steps legally after an injury or an accident, there may be some questions that you may ask regarding such circumstances.

Personal injuries

These kinds of cases arise when one suffers from some kind of harm due to injury or due to an accident. It may also be that there is someone else responsible for such harm. Such personal injury cases can be formalized in civil courts where the people legally at fault are sought out and a judgment passed. The disputes can be resolved by informal settlement before filing any lawsuit.

Such a case begins once the plaintiff files a complaint against the defendant who can be another person, a government agency, corporation, or even a business where he alleges that there was an irresponsible or careless act which is connected to the injury and the accident which brought about the harm.

There is also the option for an informal settlement. There are many disputes that are resolved by the use of an informal settlement between the parties to the dispute. Here, they are represented by attorneys and insurers. A settlement usually comes in the form of a negotiation and this is followed by an agreement that is in writing where both parties agree to forgo further action and decide to resolve the issue through a settlement which is usually in monetary terms. Personal injury lawyers can really help in such circumstances. Other alternatives include arbitration and mediation.

Car Accidents

Car accidents are very common and there are laws that govern the actions that need to be carried out once an accident happens. If you are involved in a car accident, you need to stop first. It doesn’t matter whether the accident involves a person’s property, a parked car, a moving car or even a pedestrian. If you don’t stop, then, you can face a hit and run case even when you were not at fault. Information has to be exchanged between the parties involved, including name and the number of the driving license. The address of the owner has to be recorded too. You will also need to disclose information about your insurer and the policy number.

There are severe penalties that are involved in car accident cases. This depends on injuries and the damage that has been inflicted. You can face a fine and even a jail time or even both. You stand at risk of losing your license too.

There are lots of laws that need to be adhered to. A car accident lawyer can be very helpful if at all you are faced with any such cases involving automobiles. It is always important to inform the police so as to help with an investigation. If no officer is available, you should create a report in written form and file it with the nearest police department.

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Source by Jovia D’Souza

Indemnity and Hold Harmless Clauses in Franchise Agreements

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Franchisors must protect their companies from lawsuits and liability. Indemnity and Hold Harmless Clauses in Franchise Agreements, while they may not always hold up are at least one way to help with this along with other strategies.

In my franchise agreements for my company, I addressed this issue by slightly modified our hold harmless clauses in our franchise agreements. Below is a copy of one of the early renditions of the clauses we used in our franchise agreements;

3.26 Indemnity/Hold Harmless

Franchisee agrees to defend at their own cost and to indemnify and hold Franchisor, its affiliates and its predecessor, sister or co-branding companies, their shareholders, directors, officers, members, employees, agents and their spouses, harmless from and against any and all loss, costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees), damages and liabilities arising out of your negligence, failure to maintain or repair, breach of contract or other civil wrong, resulting directly or indirectly from or pertaining to the use, condition, equipping, maintenance or operation of your car wash truck/unit, including the preparation and sale of any product or service made or sold out of your mobile car wash unit. Such loss, claims, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities will include, without limitation, those arising from latent or other defects in the trucks, units and equipment, whether or not discoverable by Franchisor, and those arising from the death or injury to any person or arising from damage to your or our property, our agents or employees, or any third person, firm or corporation, whether or not such losses, claims, costs, expenses, damages or liabilities were actually or allegedly caused wholly or in part through our active or passive negligence or any of our agents or employees or resulted from any strict liability imposed on Franchisor or any of our employees.

Franchisee will indemnify and hold Franchisor and its affiliates and its predecessor, sister or co-branding companies free and harmless from and against any and all reasonable attorneys’ fees, liabilities, expenses, claims, demands, actions or causes of action which may be incurred by or threatened against Franchisor or its affiliates and arising out of

(i) the Franchisee’s operation of the Franchised Business, or

(ii) any transaction between Franchisee and any third party or

(iii) Franchisee’s improper use of the Marks.

— — —- —–

All franchise in company should be concerned with this and it would be very smart and wise to contact a knowledgeable and experienced franchise attorney to make sure you are protected in your franchise agreements. I hope you will address this in 2006.

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Source by Lance Winslow

Tarp Off a Flatbed Trailer in Five Easy Steps

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Vinyl tarps are a valuable tool when it comes to using a flatbed trailer. Regardless of how well the items are stacked, the entire load needs to be protected in order to get it to its destination safely. The high wind pressure created while driving at high speeds becomes very strong requiring a little ingenuity when it comes to tying everything off.

Loading the Flatbed

Before the tarp can be pulled across the load, you need to arrange the load properly. First, you will need to ensure the weight is distributed evenly across the trailer to make it easier to pull and steer. Arranging the load with wind resistance in mind is also important. The more wind hitting it the harder it is to pull and the more stress is put onto the cover itself. This is the single biggest reason tarps tear while in-route to its destination. When loading, try not to have anything high and wide standing over and above your truck.

Tarp Selection

Use the right tarp to cover the load. Polyethylene and canvas tarps are simply not going to stand up to the abuse of the wind and other elements you will encounter on your trip. By the time you make the first mile, you might already see tearing. Instead, select heavy vinyl tarps with a weight of at least 18 ounces that is UV treated and waterproof. They are not only ten times stronger than the typical blue poly covers you see, but they will not break down in the hot sun either.

You also want to look at the actual construction of the cover. Choose a style that has heavy, well-attached grommets. The sewing of the fabric’s edges will also make a big difference out on the road. The sewing around the edges of the tarp can also make a significant difference. Look for hems that have two rows of sturdy stitches that go through multiple layers of the material.

Tie Down the Load

Once the products are loaded and you have chosen your vinyl tarps, it is time to start covering the load. Stretch the cover across the load and ensure there is an equal length on both sides. Use sturdy rubber tie-downs to attach the cover to the trailer and start strapping in the centers. When you get to the corners, fold the excess underneath before strapping it down to prevent the wind from catching the edges.

Next, use wide nylon ratchet straps to tie both the tarp and the load down to the trailer. If the trailer is equipped with an enhanced ratchet system, run the hook over the load, set the metal bar across to secure the straps, and lock the ratchet mechanism into place.

Covering your flatbed trailer with a tarp is the single most important step in securing your load for transport. The exposure and wind pressure can have a significant impact, but by loading the trailer correctly and using high-quality vinyl tarps accurately, the products will reach their destination safely.

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Source by Christine Harrell

Recognizing the Most Common Autism Symptoms of Toddlers

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When you are trying to figure out the autism symptoms of toddlers, it can often be confusing. How much is just normal toddler behavior, how much is a phase of some sort, and how much is cause for serious concern? One thing that you can use to look at to help you decide is the child’s behavior.

Routine

Toddlers with autism will display many behavior related symptoms. They will have a marked need for routine, needing to do everything in the same way, every time. For example, if you always travel home from the grocery store the same way, your child might notice if you take a different route, and get very upset. Very likely, he will want to have the same things for breakfast and meals, and at the same time every day. Bed time should be kept consistent. This need for routine is a common autism symptom of toddlers and children.

Lining up Toys

A toddler might line up his toys repeatedly. This is a classic autistic symptoms that toddlers exhibit. He won’t play with them in the traditional way – there is a definite lack of imaginative play.

Typical kids might play house or give human-like qualities to inanimate objects. They might pretend they are having tea, or at a monster truck rally, or something of the like. They might pretend they have super powers.

Autistic kids, though, will take the same dolls or trucks their peers played with, and line them up. They will get very upset if someone tries to interrupt them from this. This desire to line up toys is another autism symptom of toddlers.

Other Autism Symptoms of Toddlers

There are several other autism symptoms that parents may notice in their toddlers such as:

  • Autistic kids don’t like to share things as much with others.

  • A typical kid will point to show things of interest to parents, but a toddler with autism won’t.

  • There will be lots of repetitive behaviors, and your child may seem interested in unusual things, like the slant of light through the window or the sound something makes. They may spend hours observing these things.

  • Kids with autism are not good with new situations. There will be a lot of screaming, yelling and meltdowns in general if they are made to try something new they haven’t done before.

  • Also, because of sensory issues, meltdowns are common in large crowds of people, and in close, crowded areas with other kids, due to the noise and commotion levels.

  • They are very detail oriented, and will notice things that you never would have about any object or situation.

Autism Symptoms of Toddlers Often Show in Preschool

Often, a toddler is considered just a little bit quirky until it is time for preschool or kindergarten, and then the parents will get a rude awakening when they see how different their child is from his peers.

Since autism in many cases has a genetic role to it, parents often might remember having similar, but less severe traits, and not think as much of some of the milder ones. Once at school, though, the gap between the child with autism and his typical peers is a big one.

Don’t worry; there is help available if you think that your child displays some of these autism symptoms of toddlers.

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Source by Craig Kendall

Scary Movie Trivia Questions And Answers

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1. If you are a teenager living on Elm Street what should you never do?

A. Go to sleep

B. Play with dolls

C. Go to the prom

D. Have sex

A. Go to sleep

TOPICS: We all know from “Nightmare on Elm Street” that your dreams can get you killed by Freddy Krueger. Written by Craven, a former English teacher, the film’s premise is the question of where the line between dreams and reality lies. The villain, Freddy Krueger, exists in the “dream world” and yet can kill in the “real world”.

2. If you are up on your movie lore, then you also know that you should never accept what job on Halloween?

A. Hotel clerk

B. Baby sitter

C. Camp counselor

D. Traveling salesman

B. Baby sitter

TOPICS: Halloween (also known as John Carpenter’s Halloween) is a 1978 American independent horror film set in the fictional Midwest town of Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween. Originally titled The Babysitter Murders, the film centers on Michael Myers’ escape from a psychiatric hospital, his murdering of teenagers, and Dr. Loomis’s attempts to track and stop him.

3. What should tip you off to a bad motel to check in to?

A. No one else has checked in for weeks

B. The clerk talks too much about his mother

C. The clerk’s name is Norman

D. You are a thief

B. The clerk talks too much about his mother

TOPICS: At the end of the film, a forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Fred Richmond (Oakland), explains to Lila, Sam and the authorities that Bates’ mother, though dead, lives on in Norman’s psyche. Norman was so dominated by his mother while she lived, and so guilt-ridden for murdering her eight years earlier, that he tried to erase the crime from his mind by bringing his mother back to life.

4. If you are looking for a job on Crystal Lake what offer should you not accept?

A. Mailman

B. Truck driver

C. Camp cook

D. Camp counselor

D. Camp counselor

TOPICS: In Friday the 13th, we learn it is a bad job to be a counselor at Camp Crystal Lake where the counselors die extremely bloody deaths at the hands of an unseen killer who turns out to be the cook whose son Jason drowned 25 years earlier while neglected by romancing counselors.

5. British actor Boris Karloff created a cinematic icon when he played the role of what monster?

A. Dracula

B. Werewolf

C. Frankenstein

D. Alien

C. Frankenstein

TOPICS: British actor Boris Karloff played the role of the monster in the 1931 film “Frankenstein”. The ghoulish makeup he wore and the lurching walk he adopted in the film have become conventions, even cliches, of horror films. And beyond the individual techniques Karloff used when playing the role of the monster, he created a feeling of sympathy for the character, a technique that has since become a more general trait of successful horror films, whose monsters often gain intensity by fascinating audiences as well as repelling them.

6. Béla Lugosi was a Hungarian/American actor best known for his portrayal of what monster?

A. Dracula

B. Werewolf

C. Frankenstein

D. Alien

A. Dracula

TOPICS: Béla Ferenc Dezso Blaskó, better known as Béla Lugosi, was best known for his portrayal of Count Dracula in the American Broadway stage production, and subsequent film, of Bram Stoker’s classic vampire story.

7. In this 1970s book and novel, a mother believes her child (played by Linda Blair in the movie) is what?

A. An alien

B. The devil

C. Possessed by a demon

D. Bearing the devil’s baby

C. Possessed by a demon

TOPICS: Novelist William Peter Blatty based his 1971 best-seller on the last known Catholic-sanctioned exorcism in the United States. Blatty transformed the little boy in the 1949 incident into a little girl named Regan, played by 14-year-old Linda Blair in the 1973 movie. Suddenly prone to fits and bizarre behavior, Regan proves quite a handful for her actress-mother, Chris MacNeil (played by Ellen Burstyn, although Blatty reportedly based the character on his next-door neighbor Shirley MacLaine). When Regan gets completely out of hand, Chris calls in young priest Father Karras (Jason Miller), who becomes convinced that the girl is possessed by the Devil and that they must call in an exorcist: namely, Father Merrin (Max von Sydow). His foe proves to be no run-of-the-mill demon, and both the priest and the girl suffer numerous horrors during their struggles.

8. In a horror movie, you should worry if you encounter a doll named what?

A. Smiley

B. Bonnie

C. Chucky

D. Dolly

C. Chucky

TOPICS:Charles Lee Ray, or Chucky for short is a fictional character from the Child’s Play series of horror films, the original screenplay was credited as written by Don Mancini, John Lafia and Tom Holland. He is the primary villain featured in the series. Chucky is a doll that was possessed by means of voodoo magic by serial killer Charles Lee Ray, the notorious Lakeshore Strangler. During most of his time as a doll, Chucky chased after a boy named Andy Barclay because Andy was the first person he told his real name to as a doll.

9. Movies also teach us that if your son warns of “redrum” you better distance yourself from your husband pronto. But in “The Shining” all the husband is worried about is what?

A. Working too hard

B. Playing too hard

C. Becoming a murderer

D. Being murdered

A. Working too hard

TOPICS: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” — or, rather, a homicidal boy in Stanley Kubrick’s eerie 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s horror novel. With wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and psychic son Danny (Danny Lloyd) in tow, frustrated writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) takes a job as the winter caretaker at the opulently ominous, mountain-locked Overlook Hotel so that he can write in peace. Before the Overlook is vacated for the Torrances, the manager (Barry Nelson) informs Jack that a previous caretaker went crazy and slaughtered his family. Settling into their routine, Jack sets up shop in a cavernous lounge with strict orders not to be disturbed. Danny’s alter ego, “Tony,” however, starts warning of “redrum” as Danny is plagued by more blood-soaked visions of the past, and a blocked Jack starts visiting the hotel bar for a few visions of his own. Frightened by her husband’s behavior, Wendy soon discovers what Jack has really been doing in his study all day, and what the hotel has done to Jack.

10. You can never really go home again, or at least you shouldn’t if your neighbors belong to this profession?

A. Slaughterhouse workers

B. Morticians

C. Chefs

D. Veterinarians

A. Slaughterhouse workers

TOPICS: Tobe Hooper’s influential cult classic, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, continues the subgenre of horror films based on the life and “career” of Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein. When Sally Hardesty (Marilyn Burns) hears that the Texas cemetery where her grandfather is buried has been vandalized, she gathers her wheelchair-bound brother Franklin (Paul A. Partain) and several other friends together to see if grandpa’s remains are still in one piece. While in the area, Sally and her friends decide to visit grandfather’s old farmhouse. Unfortunately, a family of homicidal slaughterhouse workers who take their job home with them have taken over the house next door. Included amongst the brood is Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), a chainsaw-wielding human horror show who wears a face mask made out of human skin. Sally’s friends are rapidly exterminated one-by-one by the next-door neighbors, leaving only Sally left to fight off Leatherface and his clan.

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Source by Deanna Mascle

A Strategic Game Between Unilever and Procter and Gamble in India

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Competition in the detergent market in India is of interest for several reasons on both a macro- and micro-economic levels. On a macroeconomic level, one-sixth of the world’s population is in India. Furthermore, GDP per capita measurements indicate a steady rise in income levels in this newly industrializing nation. From a microeconomic perspective, this paper addresses a strategic game involving price wars between two market leaders in the detergent market, Unilever and Procter & Gamble (P&G). Lastly, ethical considerations will be discussed as it relates to the importance of considering exogenous ‘losers’ as a result of engaged players in this strategic games; namely, mom and pop Indian shops that sell detergent products.

Unilever has had a strong, unmatched foothold in India since 1888, when it sold its first bar of soap in the country. As an Anglo-Dutch company, Unilever has worked hard over a period of nearly 150 years to build its dominant position in emerging markets, such as India. The organizational success in executing this objective successfully is evident through the nearly 70-80% market share enjoyed by Unilever in the Indian detergent market.

P&G is a direct competitor with Unilever and has been using price wars, as well as aggressive advertising campaigns, to whittle away at Unilever’s market share. The cost of this strategy in the short run has been pressures endured by both company’s operating margins and bottom-line financial results; however, P&G has traditionally viewed this as a viable long-term strategy. In order for the company to be successful, P&G must be diligent and willing to accept losses today in order to profit from potential future gains.

The uphill battle faced by P&G is clear, as Unilever is an early adopter in this market, while P&G just entered the Indian market in 1993. To date, P&G have yet to establish the full value of their brand equity realized in other overseas markets. Strategically, the Indian market was essentially flooded by P&G with their products as an attempt to drive prices below Unilever’s marginal costs. P&G has been modestly successful in obtaining control of some additional market share in India over time, as Unilever has given up their once 90% market share held since 2004.

The game in which Unilever and P&G are playing will now be explored in greater detail. Neither player has knowledge of the other’s actions, as both moves simultaneously. Furthermore, each company has a strategy of either pricing competitively (i.e., high prices) or engaging in a price war (i.e., low prices). This game is similar, in some respects, to the “Battle of the Sexes” strategic game, in which the Pareto optimal move is for one player to set high prices while the other is priced low, but both players actually want to set low prices. The Nash equilibrium in this game is one in which is the Pareto optimal move involves asymmetric payoffs: P&G continues to price their products at the low price while Unilever prices competitively. Unilever would prefer to collude with P&G – in that manner, both players would charge the high price.

Nonetheless, the cost to Unilever of this market payoff is cushioned by the fact that it has a strong market leadership position in the Indian market – especially in the areas of brand recognition and customer loyalty. In the short run, anyway, P&G’s strategies are minimally effective in scaling additional market share at Unilever’s loss. Both companies lose in this game by waging a price war because it would adversely affect both companies’ bottom lines, at least in the short run.

In reality, both companies act in a somewhat surprising manner by following the strategy of rigorous price cutting. M.S. Banga, CEO of Hindustan Lever Ltd., a subsidiary of Unilever responsible for the Indian business, justifies such a scenario with a claim that reiterates Unilever’s already very strong position that was built up over years, as well as the company’s determination to not just defend it, but to strengthen its market share. A.G. Lafley, CEO of P&G, highlights the fact that Unilever has been in India for many decades, and that India is a region worth aggressively pursuing market entry in the long-term.

Two important factors have been omitted from this game: (1) smaller competing firms; and (2) India’s competition policy. Obvious losers in this game would be the small mom and pop companies in India. These small players in this market have no viable alternative means of competing for any length of time in a scenario where the major players are engaged in a price war due to their limited capital to draw on.

This begs the question of whether it is ethical (or even legal) for Unilever and P&G, as oligopolies in the Indian market, to engage in price wars. Unfortunately, there is a less clear or direct answer to this question. One way to consider a possible response is to observe India’s competition policies, in which Unilever and P&G appear to be in violation of, which gives rise to the idea that both companies’ may be behaving in an unethical manner. According to India’s New Competition Policy, public enterprises are charged with preventing monopolistic, restrictive, and unfair practices. Included, are practices that are exclusionary to other players by creating a barrier to new entrants or forcing existing competitors out of the market.

Advocates of price wars, in the short run, would be Indian consumers because they are receiving the same quality products at a highly discounted price. Another ethical consideration may highlight the fact that many consumers in the Indian marketplace would otherwise have no access to quality detergent products, which are a required good in the pursuit of an acceptable standard of living. One fact remains: this story is unfolding in real time and many answers to these and related questions will require continued observation of the market dynamics between Unilever, P&G, and other players in India’s detergent market.

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Source by David J Stone