[Daddy Elmis]

I think you handled that perfectly. Going off on these folks just has no effect -- if they really cared about their careers they wouldn't be there in the first place.

I can't even remember the last time I bought strings in a store -- just too many good online places with exactly what I want in the whatever quantity I want. While a good discount is nice too, I usually more interested in getting exactly the brand and gauge I want -- most of the local big box music stores don't carry much in the way of what I want (DR Blues, Guild phosphor bronze). And none seem to carry nashville tuning sets (yeah, I know I can put those together with single strings, but I prefer just buying a set).