Hmm. So Guitar Slinger in Berkhamstead has closed down, Percy Prior/Rainbow Bridge in Wycombe has closed down, Perfect Pitch in Chesham and Rosehill in Beaconsfield sell only budget brands, and Kingfisher Music in Loudwater and Planet Guitars in Flackwell Heath both stock a mere 4 basses of varying qualities.
Do I have to travel for a couple of hours to find shops with a reasonable selection of basses? How come people on this forum have Spectors, Stati, Moduli, Ricks, G&Ls? Are you all taking punts on online purchases? Take lots of holidays in the US?
Where does one go when one lives in Bucks? I know I could get to London, where I might have more success (as long as I don't mind the extortionate prices and rude staff). And even then Sound Control has closed down and Andy's didn't have any basses last time I looked.