I WAS disappointed to read the article entitled 'New TV gadget set to take off' (September 21). While the article regarding the "gadget" is quite correct, I must take issue with some of his ideas on electrical retailing in the UK.

He is quite right that there is a great interest in e-retailing, but most people do not buy because they are (quite rightly) worried about the on-going aspects of backup on the purchases that they make on the Internet.

We have a Net presence but while we do make sales, the number of hits on the site is vast compared to the actual sales made. This seems to be because customers do not trust that the goods will be delivered, are worried about card security or simply think that they would be better served by a shop.

While some small retailers will undoubtedly throw in the towel in the face of large company competition, we must always remember that a large company has very large costs. This means that they cannot be quite as competitive as the average customer thinks they can.

Far from going out of business, we have just built a large new store to help us cope with demand.

All independent electrical retailers in RETRA (Radio, Television and Electrical Retailers Association) do well by offering quality electrical goods and expert, well informed service.

David Rutherford,

Chairman of RETRA York,

R Rutherford & Sons,

Main Street, Stamford Bridge,

York.