Exclusive by Patrick Avenell

The debate between the big retail groups and the smaller, independent operators has continued today, with more comments from people inside the industry.

One independent retailer, who asked not to be named, had the following to say:

“It seems a number of major chains who are out to ‘conquer’ the world and squeeze the independents out.  Not only do the media tell the customer on how to screw the retailer on price, the big chains play hardball with the major suppliers. 

“These suppliers then put themselves in a position where their business models are unable to adequately support a network of smaller, specialised dealers.  Sadly its all about volume and market share to them.

“The customers will be whinging in the future that there is nowhere they can go to get good advice, yet today, these same customers aren’t prepared to pay a little more to get the better service and advice.”

Whilst it is not normal practice for Current.com.au to publish quotations from anonymous sources, that policy was relaxed in this instance in order to provide readers with more feedback and commentary on the industry.

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