Manufacturers Colluding with Brighthouse?....
10th May 2003

Whirlpool and Brighthouse Trading Agreement kept under wraps

It's common knowledge that Brighthouse is in the habit of marking up the cash price of goods in their shops above that which would be charged by mainstream retail outlets - the Curry's and Comet's of the world. But where do they get their goods from in the first place - and at what price?

Debt on our Doorstep checked out Whirlpool, manufacturers of washing machines and fridges which regularly appear in Brighthouse's advertising. According to Whirlpool's website, Brighthouse aren't stockists of their goods. But after contacting Whirlpool we were told - "Comet, Brighthouse Currys etc will have their own individual trading terms for their own individual ranges that they would have negotiated. What they charge is down to the individual retailer as it is illegal for us to tell them what to charge. We do deliver direct into Brighthouse's warehouse but questions about pricing should be directed to Brighthouse themselves."

All of which begs two questions. Firstly, are the terms of Brighthouse's trading agreement sufficient to warrant the mark up on the cash price that they charge as compared to other Whirlpool stockists? And secondly, why are Whirlpool so reluctant to list Brighthouse as one of their stockists on their website - could it be they are aware that their links with Brighthouse might not bring the best kind of publicity?