Then these merchants need to get a class together and sue the crap out of Shimano. With enough testimony from enough people that they were "told" something to this efect by a Shimano rep. they'll win, and the consumer will win. Same with Chris King. If this is purely a heresay case, then a couple of thousand plaintiffs need to get a smart law firm and put a stop to it.

Free trade is what makes America great, I don't take kindly to any kind of price fixing. If I have this confirmed by my LBS's, I will never even entertain the thought of using their stuff. Besides their hubs sound like a bunch of pissed off hornets.