I LIVE in Newton Aycliffe and recently drove to Northallerton to do some shopping.

I wanted to buy an expensive Kitchen Aid mixer that was available in an electrical goods shop in the main street.

It was on sale at £409.

I spoke to a very polite sales assistant who was very helpful until I asked for a discount.

I was refused three times even though I pointed out it was offered cheaper on the internet and that it would take another visit by me to get the exact colour I wanted.

Eventually, I left and subsequently bought the item I wanted from a firm in England, on the internet.

In doing so I saved £30 and received a very good free gift as well.

I would have preferred to buy from a high street shop but was rebuffed three times when asking for a discount.

If I had been offered a £10 or £15 discount I would have bought the item but it seems that this particular local high street shop feels it does not need to do so.

They lost a sale and a good profit. The internet won again.

John Walker, Newton Aycliffe.