OtterBox Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) Policy (U.S. and Canada Only)
Otter Products, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, and home to the OtterBox® brand (“OtterBox”), has adopted the following Minimum Advertised Price Policy (“MAP Policy”) for all OtterBox products, except as designated by OtterBox from time to time in writing or as posted on a website (“Covered Products”). This MAP Policy only applies to products manufactured by Otter Products, LLC. OtterBox’s goal in establishing this policy is to avoid degradation of, or damage to, the premium quality and image of its Covered Products and to the trademarks, other marks, brands or trade names under which its Covered Products are sold. OtterBox intends to sell these Covered Products only to Distributors/Resellers that do not advertise Covered Products below the Minimum Advertised Price set forth in this policy. OtterBox may choose to enforce this policy through action up to and including termination of a Distributor/Reseller or other authorized distributor that advertises any Covered Product below the stated Minimum Advertised Price as set forth below. This MAP Policy will be applied and enforced as follows:
- The minimum advertised price (“MAP”) for each Covered Product shall be the price designated as the MAP on the current OtterBox price list as issued by OtterBox from time to time, or, if no MAP is listed for any Covered Product, the MAP will be the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (“MSRP”) for that Covered Product minus 10% of that MSRP. Current price lists may be obtained by contacting an OtterBox sales representative. OtterBox Sales, Marketing, or other personnel are not authorized to modify or grant exceptions to the MAP policy. However, the MAP for one or more products may be amended from time to time and may be suspended periodically for national, regional and/or seasonal promotions sponsored by OtterBox. Changes to the MAPs will be posted on the OtterBox website designated by OtterBox and will supersede the MAPs on the price lists. It is the responsibility of distributors of OtterBox Covered Products to monitor the designated OtterBox website for updates.
- This MAP Policy applies to any and all forms of print and electronic media, direct mail, and audio and video communications. Examples of communications to which the MAP Policy applies are set forth in the linked MAP Policy FAQs.
- OtterBox considers any price advertised below the MAP a violation of its MAP Policy. For example, if a product with a MSRP of $49.95 is advertised below $44.96, this is a violation of the MAP Policy, unless the MAP is amended by OtterBox as explained in paragraphs 1 and 7 of this MAP Policy. Examples of amended MAP are set forth in the linked MAP Policy FAQs.
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Advertising two or more Covered Products (i.e. two OtterBox products that are covered by this MAP Policy) for sale together (“OtterBox Product Bundle”) at a price less than the combined MAPs for each Covered Product is a violation of this MAP Policy. OtterBox reserves the right to issue MAP Policy modifications that apply specifically to OtterBox Product Bundles.
For example, if an OtterBox Product Bundle includes one Covered Product with a MSRP of $49.95 and a second Covered Product with a MSRP of $17.95, any advertisement at or above $61.11 (the combined MSRP of the Covered Products, or $67.90, minus 10% of that combined MSRP) would comply with this MAP Policy. If OtterBox issued a $10 MSRP reduction for this same OtterBox Product Bundle, any advertisement at or above $52.11 would be in compliance (MSRP of $57.90 minus 10%); provided, however, that if the products were sold separately, the MAPs for the individual Covered Products would remain at $44.96 (MSRP of $49.95 minus 10%) and $16.16 (MSRP of $17.95 minus 10%), respectively. -
Advertisements featuring a Covered Product, and either (a) another brand of product or (b) an OtterBox product that is not a Covered Product will comply with this MAP Policy so long as the Covered Product’s individual price in the advertisement cannot be ascertained.
For example, if the advertisement states “30% off your entire order” or “Save 30% on accessories” the advertisement complies with this MAP Policy. If a dealer advertises a Covered Product at the MAP, and provides a free non-OtterBox branded screen protector, the advertisement complies with this MAP Policy. As another example, assume the dealer advertises a Covered Product and a non-OtterBox branded stylus as “Originally $59.95, now reduced to $29.99.” If the Covered Product has a MAP of $44.95 or higher, then the advertisement violates this MAP Policy because even if the stylus is priced at zero, the net advertised price of the Covered Product is lower than the MAP. Examples of advertising that does not violate the MAP Policy are set forth in the linked MAP Policy FAQs. - The MAP Policy only applies to advertised prices of Covered Products, and not the prices at which Covered Products are actually sold. The dealer is free to resell Covered Products at any price of its choice.
- OtterBox reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the MAP Policy, or modify any or all MAPs at any time. OtterBox will provide notice of any such modifications, suspension or cancellations on the designated OtterBox website. It is the responsibility of each member of OtterBox’s distribution network to monitor the OtterBox designated website for updates.
- If a dealer with multiple store locations violates this MAP policy at any one store location, or on any associated website, then OtterBox will consider this to be a violation of the dealer.
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If a dealer advertises prices below those required by this MAP Policy, sanctions will be unilaterally imposed by OtterBox, including but not limited to one or more of the following actions:
- Notify the dealer of the non-compliant advertisement with a reminder of OtterBox’s MAP Policy on Covered Products;
- Cancel any pending orders, and suspend the dealer’s right to sell the OtterBox Covered Product in question for a period of time (e.g., thirty (30), forty-five (45) or ninety (90) days) depending on the breadth and severity of the MAP Policy violation, commencing from the date of notice from OtterBox;
- Cancel any pending orders, and suspend the dealer’s right to sell the entire OtterBox series designation in question (e.g., Defender Series, or Commuter Series, etc.) for a period time (e.g., thirty (30), forty-five (45) or ninety (90) days) depending on the breadth and severity of the MAP Policy violation, commencing from the date of notice from OtterBox;
- Cancel any pending orders, and suspend the dealer’s right to sell the entire OtterBox product portfolio for a period of time (e.g., thirty (30), forty-five (45) or ninety (90) days) depending on the breadth and severity of the MAP Policy violation, commencing from the date of notice from OtterBox;
- Cancel any pending orders, and suspend the dealer’s right to sell the entire OtterBox product portfolio for a period of not less than one (1) year, commencing from the date of notice from OtterBox; and/or
- Terminate the Distributor/Reseller Agreement or other relevant agreement between OtterBox and the member of the distribution network who has violated this MAP Policy.
OtterBox will make all decisions concerning compliance with and enforcement of this MAP Policy unilaterally. This MAP Policy is a unilateral declaration of policy by OtterBox and does not reflect or constitute an agreement between OtterBox and any Distributor/Reseller, any other authorized distributor, or any other person or entity, and by issuing this policy OtterBox is not seeking any such agreement.
This Policy was last updated June 19, 2024.