Had a look in a Sony Centre today and the prices of TVs and DVD recorders (and I'm not talking about internet prices) compared to other Sony dealers are the highest on the high street.

Surely there must be some advantage to being a franchised single brand dealer. As a consumer I can't see what this is. Why are they so expensive, someone please enlighten me?

Because stupid people shop in them.

They tend to be in prime locations therefore have high overheads compared with many specialist retailers - and certainly compared with websites operating out of sheds! That's not to say you can't haggle

My experience of Sony Centres is that they will price match any local retailer with the exception of Richer Sounds

I can confirm that - my got a great deal last year.

That's useful to know. Funny, I might of haggled the price with a high street dealer who stocked multi-kit brands but as the Sony Centre was in a Shopping Centre it didn't occur to me.

... But (back to my original point) being situated in prime locations across the UK and therfore getting a lot of 'foot fall' they could shift a lot more kit if the displayed price was more competative to begin with. The Sony Centre I was in today had a lot of people looking but not many buying (actually no one bought anything whilst I was there) though the shopping centre was mobbed.

The staff were very helpful and even looked up some spec. details when I asked but ultimately once seeing the price and knowing that I could pay a lot loss for the same piece of kit down the road I left without making a purchase. Next time I'll ask for a price match and see what they offer.

I've always wondered how they make money.

The staff are certainly much more knowledgeable than is standard - and that probably helps them no end. Having said that, it doesn't explain everything.

I have asked them for deals several times when I have been in, but my purchases have been restricted to accessories. They are willing to deal, but I've always been able to get deals that are so much better (online in the case of a recent TV purchase) that I couldn't be bothered going back and asking them to match or better it because it has seemed unlikely that they'd be able to.

Sony stuff is overpriced tat. If Sony centre reduced everything by 50% then it would still be a bit expensive for what it is.

Does that include the PS3 listed in your services bit?

And also they believe that they're specialists selling a premium product - which they're not.

Sony stuff is expensive, but don't confuse expense with being a premium product. In most cases Sony stuff is more expensive than the equivalent Panasonic yet in quality terms no different.

Go into a Sony centre and remind the smug gits that their units are outsold by Sharp by 5 to 3 in Japan (And everybody in Japan thinks Sony's farts smell like oven fresh cookies!), it's worth being escorted to the exit for!