Dear Jim,

It would greatly help the debate if you were to clarify exactly what 
you mean by "stains" and what you mean by "dyes"

Contrary to your statement, there are very many thousands of labs 
making stains and very few, sometimes only one, "institution", 
making dyes.

I usually buy both myself. [work that one out!]

yours colourfully,

Russ Allison, 
Dental School
Cardiff
Wales