So ive been playing Animal Crossing New Leaf since the release date but I remember on like my first couple of weeks everything I sold was to Timmy&Tommy because of Wild World and City Folk.
Then couple weeks after my friend told me you can get more at retail -.-
You are not alone. I sold most of my junky fish to Nooks and then when my sister and I were playing she made me sell my items to retail and I noticed the price change.
haha ACNL is my first AC game so I started selling to Retail right away because I think they're introduced in the beginning of the game. or I just wandered in IDR at this point lol.
I knew prior to getting the game that it was more valuable to sell at Re-Tail than the Nooklings', but that was only due to a minor game info splurge. >_< I would've probably assumed they were the people to sell to as well if I han't known.
I actually didn't know you could sell to the Nook brothers haha.
So this didn't happen to me. Until this day I haven't even sold to the brothers because I didn't trust them.
This was my first AC, I sold at retail, but sold my caterpillar sofa my second day which sucks as now that I have the catalog I realize I can't order it! (sold it by accident, but heard about catalog so figured I could order it later)
I still sell things to them. Buy things from Timmy + Tommy so they will be in my catalogue, then sell them back because Im too lazy to save them or take them to Reese.
If you've played previous AC games, it would seem likely to you that nook boys are the next in line for buying products (Since their father is getting obese and needs serious medical help. I think his wife ditched him for a hot dog, talk about emotional eating)