FTC Complaint - Docket No. Respondent Precision Moulding Co., Inc. is a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the State of California with its office and principal place of business located at 3308 Cyclone Court, Cottonwood, California 96022, and its mailing address at P.O. Box 406, Cottonwood, California 96022. Respondent is now, and for some time has been, engaged in the manufacture, advertising, offering for sale, sale and distribution of stretcher bars and other wood products.
Precision is the dominant supplier of commercial stretcher bars in the United States.
Between January and May of 1995, respondent became aware that a new competitor was soliciting the business of its customers. These customers provided respondent with written documentation that the competitor was offering stretcher bars at prices below those offered by respondent. In May of 1995, the President and General Manager of the respondent planned to travel to the eastern United States, in part, to make an unannounced visit to its competitor. This was understood by the competitor to be an invitation to fix prices. The competitor then implored the respondent's representatives to refrain from further discussion concerning prices.