He's not connected to a store, and I don't even know if he DOES sell stuff, but most folks who work around instruments seem to end up buying and selling at least some eventually. Either way I wouldn't buy from him anyway -- if he thinks mine is so bad, then he's unlikely to stoop to selling anything I might want :)

While shopping, I had a chance to play what was billed as a decent instrument (it was apprentice made); great for a mid-level conservatory player. I thought it was... uninspiring...

Maybe it is all classical vs. folk taste. I have no idea what goes into building a good sounding orchestra -- I like classical, but I don't have any desire to play it.