That's unfortunate.
In Hull (where I used to live), on Newland Avenue, is a small computer shop called Computech - been going for around 5 years I think.
The guy who owns it is just the opposite - always helpful, happy to just talk about the options, will always try to find the right solution for you - even offers to order stuff as a one off if he doesn't have it in stock. Also not afraid to advise you that product xxxx just isn't worthwhile, and you'd be better off with product yyyy, which is a cheaper alternative. Good prices too.
Just shows you, depends entirely on the person you encounter.
I prefer the personal experience of using smaller shops (not to mention the ethical dimension) - I tend to buy my meat from the butchers (although I'm in-between good butchers at the moment), my veg from the greengrocers ("Beanies", Crookes Valley Road, Sheffield - Superb greengrocers with a massive organic range), and my dry goods from a wholefood store ("Down to Earth, Sharrowvale Road, Sheffield" - best wholefood store I've ever seen). Most of the people who work in all of them are friendly and a pleasure to deal with.
Contrast that with the local Co-op supermarket where I buy my bread and milk on a daily basis - miserable staff, depressing atmosphere, soulless experience.
Andy, I'd advise you to just try to find a better small computer shop - that one obviously sucks, and will ultimately fold as a result, most likely. Small shops tend to rely more on individual customer relationships and repeat trade - if they are unwilling to even google a bit of memory for a customer they are unlikely to build such relationships.
