I agree that it's completely unfair to go into a B&M, seek advice from a salesperson, play with the gear, and then go home and order it online from a much less expensive supplier. It's rather horrid behaviour, actually.

I also agree that one shouldn't expect the B&M and online supplier to be on the same playing field when there are differentiators such as knowledgeable sales staff, goods at which one can look, etc.

What the B&M retail industry needs to realise very quickly is that people's shopping behaviour has changed.

There is a market of buyers, like myself, where service, staff advice and the ability to look at the goods isn't as important as procuring it quickly and cheaply, or isn't important at all.

If the B&M retail industry doesn't make some changes and adjust to the 21st century in line with consumer behaviour, it's going to end up high and dry. It's already happening.

B&Ms will soon enough become a niche market, and some kinds of stores will cease to exist altogether.