Small Business Says Keep Unfair Sales Act
The
National Federation of Independent Business, Wisconsin Chapter (NFIB), the
state’s leading small business organization, has released the results of a recent
survey study that shows small business owners are strongly opposed to
legislation that would repeal the state’s Unfair Sales Act.
“The
NFIB supports the current Unfair Sales Act, not to protect small business from
the workings of the free market,” said Bill G. Smith, NFIB State Director, “but
to provide small business owners every opportunity to succeed and prosper in a
marketplace with vigorous, yet fair competition.”
The
NFIB survey results show 62 percent of the respondents believe the current law
helps promote a more competitive retail environment, which results in greater
consumer choice from more retailers at competitive prices.
“To
the extent that we lose Main Street businesses to the mega-retailers, we lose
vital contributors to our communities, real competition is lost and consumers lose
choice, price, and service. Keeping
communities strong means supporting our Main Street businesses,” said Smith.
Legislation
has been introduced in the State Assembly and Senate that would eliminate
Wisconsin’s Unfair Sales Act, which was enacted in 1939 to prevent smaller
firms from predatory pricing practices of big business, and requires all
competitors – big and small – to play by the same rules.
“The
purpose of the Act,” said Smith, “is not to artificially increase consumer
prices as some claim, but to promote a
competitive marketplace that will guarantee consumers receive both fair
competitive pricing and maximum choice for their purchasing dollars.”
