Marketing Channels is a form of networking between companies, distributors and consumers managing the social relationships among members in order to achieve synergy.  There are three different types of Channel Relationships the first one is Arm’s-Length Relationship which is a relationship between companies that is loose, characterized by low relational investment and trust, and usually taking the form of a series of discrete transactions with no/low expect ion of future interaction or service.  This type of marketing is commonly used at car dealers where they have a contract with Bridgestone tires to supply them with tires at the Toyota manufacturer are is having a production problem so what Toyota will do is call upon Michelin to supply them tires until Bridgestone recovers.  I can see other companies doing this especially in this economic situation that we are in.  The second type of marketing channel is Integrate Relationships is between companies that are tightly connected, with linked processes across and between firm boundaries, and high levels of trust and internal commitment.  This is used by food chains that have relationships with everyone that they receive product from to be sold in there stores with out the integrated relationship if there is a misunderstanding then the company could be without a particular item for a while and could hider profits.  The third one is Cooperative Relationships are more flexible and require some sort of contract.  Cooperative Relationships are typically use at companies that want less ambiguity and is not like either of the other types.