I've just had a glance at the hiking section of Ebay. There were 4900 items for auction, about 50% of which wouldn't be sold in any outdoors shop (pink fashion backpacks anyone?). Most of these appeared to be on sale from private individuals, a lot seondhand.

There were also 4300 items available at fixed prices from Ebay shops, probably about 75% of this stuff would be on sale in outdoors shop, but as ptc said theres a lot of old stock being sold off. And I know from past searchs that a lot of the stuff is unsold and gets relisted.

There were 27 Montane items available in Ebay shops, down to 16 accounting for different sizes, There a Dynamo jacket going for £55, when I bough one from a specialist supplier for £35 earlier in the year!

As for the reference to North Face, the seller had a Talkeetna jacket for sale at £110, when a quick Google products search showed prices of £105-£120!!

Methinks the shop owner who went puce needs to get a grip on reality

 Edit: I just noticed that theres an ad from the seller of the Dynamo jacket flashing away on the right side of the page!

Stephen Graham - so the difference surely is that the sexy voiced Rose DID try and talk to you and you provided a different number? Which IS different to eBay you mention yes?

Quite a few Ebayers do email to confirm the item has been received though (I do whenever I've sold stuff) - I've just bought a couple of bits from Team IO/Morph on Ebay and was contacted to confirm the goods had been shipped etc.

You also REALLY missed out ... er for feedback comments I mean ..... <sorry Bob> 

I will bear these comments and mind and make sure I use my works phone number next time as it sounds like I'm missing out on something here!!!

If I'm looking for a bit of outdoor kit it's usually a little too unusual for anyone local to stock it anyway (even if they weren't rubbish!) so I usually check BLP and Alpkit before heading for Ebay - so if anything I'd tend to regard BPL, Alpkit and a couple of good Ebayers as my equivalent of a local shop.

As tiredandweary pointed out, buying new gear on eBay can often be more expensive than buying it from a dedicated supplier!

I have the good fortune to live near www.theoutdoorshop.com and their stuff is almost always heavily reduced, they have a great selection as well and have so far provided excellent service!

Unfortunately, if all you have nearby is a Black's or something, then you're stuffed.