Another distributor joined the party ...

I'm puzzled.

In the comments section, RobertC is talking about the Foundation allocating him his 50 boards ... the Foundation, not either of the two manufacturing partners.  So how is this thing organized?  Is the arrangement between RPF and the two manufacturing partners such that they cannot negotiate distribution of the boards that they themselves manufacture?

Did Maplin have to negotiate with RPF, rather than with Farnell as we thought?  (RS was believed to be out of the game owing to not having enough even for themselves.)  If so, then from who's manufacturing pile did RPF allocate Maplin's units, and now Sparkfun's?  Maybe it's evenly from both manufacturers, but that seems unlikely.  Presumably from Farnell's pile, but then who actually owns Farnell's output, Farnell or RPF?  It has to be Farnell (it's their money), but in that case how come RPF is controlling distribution?

The above are clearly just random jigsaw pieces in total disarray, and some of them aren't even flat.

I suspect that we don't have the facts for a testable theory, but I'd be most interested to hear some possible candidates to hold up to inspection.

I'm puzzled.

In the comments section, RobertC is talking about the Foundation allocating him his 50 boards ... the Foundation, not either of the two manufacturing partners.  So how is this thing organized?  Is the arrangement between RPF and the two manufacturing partners such that they cannot negotiate distribution of the boards that they themselves manufacture?

Did Maplin have to negotiate with RPF, rather than with Farnell as we thought?  (RS was believed to be out of the game owing to not having enough even for themselves.)  If so, then from who's manufacturing pile did RPF allocate Maplin's units, and now Sparkfun's?  Maybe it's evenly from both manufacturers, but that seems unlikely.  Presumably from Farnell's pile, but then who actually owns Farnell's output, Farnell or RPF?  It has to be Farnell (it's their money), but in that case how come RPF is controlling distribution?

The above are clearly just random jigsaw pieces in total disarray, and some of them aren't even flat.

I suspect that we don't have the facts for a testable theory, but I'd be most interested to hear some possible candidates to hold up to inspection.

Perhaps, that is how they are organized. However, does Sparkfun qualify as a distributor ? I thought they were e-tailers (ecommerce retailers, for the puritans).

Have run into similar arrangement with a 'so called' Indian distributor, who cite the 'arrangement' mandating 'bunding of accessories' as a prerequisite for them being able to source and sell Pi (source as in source much faster compared to much fast Element14 and RSComp are locally willing to retail in that country).

While I might be reading too much into this, but I thought I smelt some trout, with all that 'arrangement' business.