Some automobile manufacturers have long 'desired to consolidate the auto¬mobile distribution system, in some cases even seeking to own and operate retail stores themselves. Most automobile dealerships are privately owned busi¬nesses that operate as a franchise of the manufacturer. Most automobile manu¬facturers also consistently use price incentives and other rebates to stimulate sales. It is not unusual for these rebates "to be tied to certain sales targets. For example, in what are called stair-step programs the dealer may receive a $200 rebate per car sold for the first 10 units sold, $500 per car for the next 10, and so forth. The result of this is that larger retailers effectively pay a lower price per unit than smaller retailers. Perhaps not coincidentally, smaller dealers therefore face greater competition and are driven from the market, which results in the consolidation of distribution points that many manufacturers seek. A real ethi¬cal question must be raised. Does such price discrimination constitute unfair competition among retailers?. Even if consumers benefit from lower prices, the benefit may be achieved by causing undeserved harm to small businesses.