David Oldbury, of Church Road, Dartmouth, writes: What is it with Dartmouth tradespeople? A couple of years ago a well-known local restaurant sent fliers around the town. When I asked for an item on the menu as a takeaway, I was told that I had to pay the restaurant price instead of what was advertised to local residents (who support such businesses all the year round). At the beginning of August last year I took a carriage clock for repair and was summarily told: 'After Regatta.' When I suggested I leave the heavy clock at the shop, the response was: 'No storage space.' This morning I went to buy another bottle of carpet cleaner (having already gone through two) and was told I could not have one of the 10 or more bottles I could see as they will be needed for the hire trade. So, these are three businesses over whose thresholds I shall not step again. Talking of these events, I find I am not in a minority of one who has met such frustrations. Wake up, Dartmouth traders, and serve your local community – unless you are too fat on the profits of two summer months to give a damn.