Why cant some avionics be sold over the counter (without dealer installation)?
When a company becomes a dealer for an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), it is required to commit to a dealership agreement. Most OEMs state in these agreements that no new parts, unless otherwise specified, will be sold outright. Therefore, they must be installed by the dealer. The reasons for this is two fold . First the OEM wants to minimize their liability risk by having their equipment installed by known trained and knowledgeable technicians. Secondly, they want to maintain their products integrity by making sure the product is installed and operating properly so the customer is satisfied with the performance.
