Consumers have not been deprived of the freedom to opt for alternative auto lamps because, if one is extremely sensitive to the lamp price, he could choose other car models instead of a Mercedes-Benz when buying an automobile. As such, consumers are not forcibly locked into the aftermarket of Daimler’s lamps Therefore the primary market and the aftermarket are blended as one relevant market, and the court rejected DEPO’s argument that auto lamps alone form an independent market. In the court’s opinion, DEPO’s argument of there existing an independent market for lamps only intended to favour those consumers who did not know of the limited options of lamps when purchasing a car. By circling out the aftermarket for parts, car makers would inevitably increase car prices in order to recover the prospective lost revenue in said aftermarket. Loyal consumers of certain car brands may not necessarily prefer such a business model of higher car price with lower repair cost, partially because repairs are conducted sporadically. As a balance of interests, the court believes that it is preferable to protect loyal consumers over random consumers who are cost-conscious but who pay less attention to the cost of post-sale repair.