Apple computer dealer

MARKHAM, Ont. -- Computer Buyer's Warehouse Direct has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Apple Canada Inc.

According to Computer Buyer's Warehouse Direct (CBWD), the suit claims that Apple terminated an authorized dealer agreement with CBWD after the dealer published its first Mac catalogue in May of 1999.

CBWD says Apple prohibited them from advertising prices for any Apple products within the catalogue, and from shipping Apple systems outside a 200 km radius of CBWD's Markham, Ont., headquarters.

At press time, Apple Canada had not returned phone calls from CDN regarding the CBWD lawsuit.

Canadian customers now have only one authorized Mac catalogue choice, MacWarehouse.

CBWD contends this represents a monopoly.

"We have asked the courts to rule on what appears to be a very anti-competitive environment," said Lorne Cherry, president of CBWD.

"Our customers wonder why we can sell them a printer, scanner and monitor by catalogue, but not an Apple system."

Cherry said MacWarehouse can sell and ship Macs by catalogue anywhere in Canada.

"Something must be done so that all Canadian dealers are able to compete on a level playing field," Cherry said.