B&Q are the largest importer of tiles in the UK. So i'd get used to it. Topps are the largest
tile and wood flooring specialist, but B&Q sell the most tiles.
Info correct of about 2004 - B&Q now much bigger with their Warehouses. Though Topps are still expanding I think B&Q will still be bigger.
You have a couple of advantages over the DIY stores when it comes to Topps. 1) The sales assistant will get you the tiles and will often check for shading - though it's always the down to the tiler to make sure EACH BOX is right before the tiles can't be returned (get stuck to the wall). With B&Q you don't get this service - and even when you do check you can find a big variation.
And the biggy 2) you can profit a little and build a good rapore with Topps, you can wonder around B&Q all day 7 days a week and you'd only attract attention from the security. It's nice to know you can shout a first name and get a "what's up mate?" and some help.
You can hammer topps (and other
tile stores no doubt) with quotes on the phone or in the store and they'll sit down and go through them all, giving you retail and trade prices and colour options and will give you a couple of tiles if you go in often enough (usually costing newer traders a refundable deposit) and generally they don't mind it one bit. Try getting even the trade part of the few B&Q stores to do that!
Always mention that topps can beat the price of your tiles by a % if they can get the too. Though B&Q do / can have a lot of exclusive stuff.