In practical economics can there be competition between parties who offer...

[savoir68]

...absolutely identical products? My opinion is that the products/services need to be somewhat different in some (any)aspect, or they will naturally end up copying eachothers pricing.

[d00tchy]

The only competition would be based on cost efficiency and ultimately, pricing.

Same exact goods and services aren't the focus. It's how cheaply one good can be made over the other that makes the difference.

[Che]

Generally some differentiation exists. Whether through marketing, quality, convenience, or pricing. Look at Gas stations and ask why they have different prices in different parts of the same town. They aren't copying each other's prices they're trying to make the most money.

[Maus]

A perfectly competitive market is one where all the goods are completely identical. For example, agriculture.

When a firm is selling a product that is unique and has no close substitutes, the firm is called a monopoly. i.e. it has no competitors.