More ??? re French paint

[Minouette]

Hi

I've just been reading the thread re UK v. French paint.. very interesting/useful stuff. 

Has anyone tried the Crown paint, available at Gedimat as Coronet?  Good, bad or indifferent?

If buying a v.large quantity, ie sufficient for the whole interior of a 4-bed house, would it be OK to try and haggle in a DIY store or is this deemed to be very naff behaviour?!

And does anyone know why paint is so expensive over here?  Surely the difference between UK and French prices for branded makes such as Crown and Dulux cannot only be attributable to transport costs?  Is the paint formulated differently to cope with the difference in building materials used here?  Is it the difference in taxes?

Also, if a house is situated in a tiny village with a conseiller municipale rather than a maire is it OK to discuss exterior paint colours with the conseiller or is a trip to the nearest mairie in order?

Thanks

Minou