You are right. Gates makes GEBE belts. The belts they make for GEBE are proprietary--only GEBE can sell them So GEBE can ask what they want for them and have no competitors. Gates makes a version of the belt that is the same in every respect save one--it is not made with kevlar cording. How much difference that makes in length of life I don't know. What I do know is that the one belt can be purchased online for about 14$, with UPS shipping the total is about 25$. GEBE charges 32$ for their product and shipping? Probably something like 8$. So...