An electrical industry study lends urgency to the cry for a common industry database.
The world being what it is, I'm willing to believe that some small percentage of wholesalers descend to such sleazy business practices, but I can't believe it's widespread. I suspect that most order foul-ups are unintentional, and as likely to be in the customer's favor as the supplier's. The world being what it is, I think many contractors tend to remember quite vividly the mistakes that go against them but forget the times they picked up some extra elbows and tees at the wholesaler's expense.