Petition against Benjamin Moore's e-store

On Monday, February 1, 2010, Benjamin Moore launched their new e-store to sell Benjamin Moore products online. If you go to their homepage, they give you the option to buy all of your paint and painting supplies, shipped right to your front door. Presently, this site is available to US residents only but it is evident that in the near future it will be available to Canadians too. In fact, if you go to their site, you will see that where you enter your state, it shows a province and postal code option.

Retail stores are outraged by this because for as long as we have been in business, it has been Benjamin Moores promise to protect, support, maintain and respect the independent paint dealers. This has always been a comfort to us with the competition of the big box stores and technologies that have killed many small businesses. Not only did Benjamin Moore tell their retailers frequently about their promise but they also put it in writing on all opening pages of price lists and catalogues. It was titled, Declaration Of Policy and it reads:

To protect the Independent Paint Dealer by maintaining policies that afford opportunities for profit and business growth in a highly competitive market.
To support the efforts of the Independent Paint Dealer to increase paint sales to consumers, painting contractors and industry within the dealers service area.
To maintain product quality, service and price at levels competitively advantageous to the independent Paint Dealer.
To respect the Independent Pain Dealers rightful opportunity to operate without direct selling competition from the supplier.
Today thousands of Independent Paint Dealers selling Benjamin Moore & Co.s products in the United States and Canada know from experience that the companys strict adherence to these policies is the dealers assurance of a business relationship that fosters continuing growth and prosperity.

We havent seen this declaration on our documents in a while. This was a promise made before Benjamin Moore blossomed into the huge multi-million dollar company it is today. It is because of its thousands of independent paint dealers who have worked hard to give Benjamin Moore its prestigious reputation. Was this declaration of policy made just to appease the retailers mind for the time being? Now that Benjamin Moore made it where they are today and no longer need us, does the declaration no longer stand? We feel used, not protected, not supported and not respected to say the least.

We like your idea of a website to compliment our stores with great advice, ideas and product information. Wed love for you to do what you did in the past, which was to direct those customers from your site to our friendly, helpful and personalized retail stores.

We, the undersigned, call on Benjamin Moore Paints to refrain from becoming our competition and selling their products online. We have spent years selling and building your reputation and business, we refuse to let you kill ours. We have proven to be determined, dedicated individuals who have been successful. We will use this determination to make sure that Benjamin Moore does not continue to sell their products online.