...and Tweeter is going out of business. I was in the Marlton, NJ store today looking at several dozen URC remotes (980s, 950s, etc) marked down for clearance.

I was pondering whether to purchase one or not. After reading this thread, I will pass. Perhaps that business model of forcing the end-user to spend a few hundred+ bucks to have it programmed didn't work out as well as one would think.

Also, the displays in Magnolia/BBY are inherently deceiving. The majority of "professional" remotes sold (Crestron, etc.) are simply not displayed in consumer friendly glossy boxes. One can simply take one off the display and just buy it without the assistance of a store employee.

Blaming the retailer for allowing the consumer to purchase the remote is weak, at best. ALL companies are fully aware of how their product is marketed and placed within a retail establishment, AND how accessible it is to the consumer. URC is just as culpable for this as the retailers.