is it me, I don't remember new  Daiwa reels being sold on auction sites at prices considerably less than list. Tatulas can be had at 33% discounts. Daiwa and Shimano always sold for list or very close. A new trend for Daiwa that makes me wonder what direction they are heading

Well, when I worked in a tackle store (94/95), some of Diawa's rods and reels were way marked up, sometimes 125% above cost.  

I've seen the prices on certain Daiwa rods and reels that my local shop gets them for. That's him getting it from a distributor also. So there's a markup from what they get them for, and then he adds a markup on top of that. A Tatula is like $70 at his cost. It's the same at my business. I pay X for a piece of jewelry and usually double to quadruple the price.

Allow the market to determine the value sounds good to me. Basically price fixing an item MAP not allowing it to be sold but at a certain most often higher price doest make that item any better.

Don't know why, but I am glad.  A $200 reel is something I can't afford very often...and hate paying.  $130 for a $200 reel goes down a lot easier. 

 

I'm also glad the size of the Tatula or its weight bothers some.  I get a like new one for even less. 

 

Speaking of Daiwa pricing, it wasn't that long ago some people were claiming a Daiwa below $250 wasn't equal to its competitor's offerings in the same price range, and was to be avoided.  I feel my cheapest reel.....which also happens to be a Daiwa....was a great buy at $30 new on closeout.  Even at full price the Procaster 100HN was, and is, a solid reel, IMHO.

I just don't remember being able to buy a current model at a discounted rate like you can now. Other brands, yes. But not Daiwa or Shimano. Even higher end reels like the Zillion T3 and the Ballistic EX can be had at a big discount and they are basically brand new models. I just find it odd