[HIDEK6]

This will cost Ping far more in the negative publicity it generates than the piddly amount they were losing in the discounts to military.

Ping was losing zero money. The retailer was discounting his profit.

Ping gets their money when the store pays their invoice.

[Stone Mountain]

Ping was losing zero money. The retailer was discounting his profit.

This would only be true if that retailer was the only outlet Ping had. Ping has an interest in having it's retailers sell it's product at a consistent price. If that doesn't happen, it will affect profits in the long run. And it's not just Ping - damn near any manufacturer will insist on setting the price for their product. If the retailers don't like it, they don't have to carry the product.