I just did business with a wholesaler today & this topic came up. He's seen a dramtic increase in the last few years of multi-line forklift dealerships. I believe that the manufacturers are now following the pricing philosphy of back end profits- where the selling price is not where they make their money, but on parts afterwards. With forklifts now all being electronically controlled- most with dealer only access to the diagnostics- the dealership is the gatekeeper to the parts supplied- which will naturally come from their manufactuerer.