I was interested by the editor's comments about internet pricing

I agree that suppliers have to shoulder a lot of the blame, but even I have to concede that a customer wanting to buy six bathrooms from me will probably get a better 'deal' than the customer who wants just wants one. 

While I agree that a patient consumer could shop around for the best price using the phone and Yellow Pages as they used to in pre-web days, the internet has made it much easier and quicker.

If you want to buy, say, a Neff Superfast 3000e oven in stainless steel, all you have to do is Google it and the cheapest UK price will probably appear on the first page. That's a massive difference.

Internet pricing drives me nuts. I don't mind anyone haggling for a deal - you expect it these days. But it annoys me when they use my showroom, technical advice, free planning service and then want me to match the internet price, too. Surely the service has to be worth something? Why don't manufacturers all increase their retail prices by 50% and increase our retailer's discount off the list price, so that we are buying at the same net price and we can offer 30% off to the public?

Ashley Heath, Tubs & Tiles, Coventry

What do you think? Email the editor direct: andrew@kbbreview.com