I will not allow anyone to spout fallacious information about our sponsors or manufacturers. The OP has clearly been spoon-fed information from someone within the industry.
Nearly every airgun brand has AN importer. The manufacturers make this so. FX prevents Krale from shipping here, not AoA. FX believes it is important to have a qualified facility (not just a guy working out of his house) to distribute, service, maintain, and warranty their products. AoA has over 20 years of experience in the airgun industry, and has worked closely with FX in developing many of their products for a very long time.
Companies who did little to nothing with airguns 2-3 years ago are all benefiting from the work that has been done here in the US. The US market has contributed to building a huge platform that that has escalated airguns into the mainstream. Companies like FX have contributed by making models that people want, need, and desire. And wherever there is a flourishing market, there is sure to be others that come along and try to profit from those who laid the groundwork.
Foreign companies may look to the US as easy sales, but FX has set them up to service their market, not the US market. Which is probably why FX told Krale to stay in their market? Krale cannot service from the Netherlands, nor do they have the proper insurance to sell to the US market. That’s right, I said insurance, which some of you may have never thought about. Insurance is a vital component to operating in the US. AoA is the only company that carries the amount of liability insurance that FX demands.
Tritium, Thurman (if that is in fact your real name) your agenda: "I have lots of free time which I will now devote to a new hobby of breaking this monopoly by ANY and all means at my disposal.” is being wasted on the wrong parties.
Last year I attended the Extreme Benchrest Competition in Arizona. A competitor drove all the way from Mexico in a VW diesel pickup truck. When he told me that he gets 25-30 MPG with power and performance, I thought to myself… why can’t I have one? Its because you cannot buy them here in the US. Nor can you buy it in Mexico and bring it to the US. So, should we make a case against VW USA about the 'monopoly' they have on the US market? They are preventing us from getting what we want by leveraging their US market protection. Silly right? VW does not have a monopoly. They have a right to service their market as they see fit, and are bound by legalities, liability insurance, regulations, etc.
Exclusivity exists everywhere. Exclusive rights to a brand are not a monopoly. Control over an entire industry is a monopoly.
