OP; you call the basement guy a competitor but it sounds like you are a supplier to your current 40 mile customer. A "wholesaler", so to speak. And you offered to supply the basement guy with inventory also? Inventory that he could re-sell at a profit? Why would he turn down the opportunity? Do you compete with him for retail sales? Or are you competing with him for the available used appliances? I'm having a hard time getting my head around this. What am I missing here?