leaky nipples? pricey problem!

I rebuilt my brakes with seal kits in m/cyl and calipers. Some may remember queries about dot 5.1 fluid. Don't know if its a bit thinner than dot 4 but nipples would not seal on threads. Was going to get new ones with sealant on from ebay (but need for t/day thurs) in case tapers on old were hard/distorted. Went to earnshaws again out of desperation, £4 each for non genuine ones! How do they stay in business? I said "!£$%^ing EACH" to him and he just shrugged his shoulders and said he could order some suzuki ones but they would be more than double that! I know local shops have overheads but come on. To follow on from the original thread the front brakes are now ace, 2 fingers lifts back wheel! SBS pads look like they are giving newish discs some hammer. They are track ones and seem very abrasive.