If anything, your original email was (in my opinion) slightly accusatory. A simple question would have been received better, I feel.
Nevertheless, the reply you got was inexcuseable and methinks "James" could do without at least one more customer (i.e. you) now and in the future. Something for him to think about!
For the record, I never read beyond his first reply. That was enough for him to go into my "complete and utter idiot" list.
Edit: I've just read James' reply once again, and it seems he simply lacks communication skills. I now believe that he did mean his response to be friendly, but it came across as something very different.