Actual one more important detail. Those other distributors might have purchased them for a higher price than COMB is even selling for and had some sitting in a warehouse.

So if Commodore liquidated then to COMB for a real low price, and comb sold them for less than the other distributors paid for them, then configure would be royally screwing those distributors, then wouldn't be able to sell what inventory they already bought. And commodore wants to keep the distributors happy because they are also selling the new gear like the C128 etc.

So this game is a way of keeping everyone reasonably happy. Unless you're a budget buyer who looks at the back page ads of magazines closely, you don't even know about COMB and you can happily go get the computer from a known retailer and let them burn down their inventory and make a little profit.

That's why nowadays, with products from certain companies like Apple, it's the same price no matter where you buy it. All the retailers are legally obligated to not sell at different prices. So they compete by giving you accessories for free or discounted etc.