Niagara Cycle doesn't have most of the parts that you order in house. They order your parts from the parts distributor after you place your order. When they say "it is at one of our warehouses," they mean, it is at the distributor. Sometimes, the part comes from the West Coast, to Niagara Falls, then to you. Sometimes, it comes from Ohio to Niagara Falls, to you. Very rarely does it come from Niagara Falls, directly to you. It is cheaper for them to carry a very limited inventory, in house - roughly 2% or what is listed online.
The shop itself is mostly a front. QBP requires an actual store, in order to supply parts. Easily 99% of the business that they do is online, but they need a store front (for what seem like ethical purposes) in order to get you the QBP parts. QBP requires an actual bike shop.
The Niagara Cycle setup revolves around getting the parts in and out as fast as possible. It is basically a re-packing line. They print out the orders for the day, and make big orders to the distributors monday through friday, based on what's been ordered. If it is cheaper to get the part from Washington, then it is from Ohio, or Minnesota, than the customer will have to wait the additional time. If it weren't for the UPC codes on the parts, Niagara Cycle wouldn't know what to send out to you. That is why you aren't told specifically when the order will ship. It's because Niagara Cycle doesn't have absolute control over or knowledge of the inventory.
The business model isn't based around being the best, or the most helpful, or honest. It is about turning over the most product by offering the lowest prices. The owners are not bike people. They do not ride any more then the average Walmart bike owner. The employees are mostly not bike people, and are paid poorly, even by local bike shop standards. Employee turnover is high. Personally, I quit shorty after a cartoon was posted by the owner, above the time clock, stating "maybe the best solution to morale problems is to fire all the unhappy employees." Lying to the customer in order to divert blame, e.g. blaming the shipping company, or Amazon, is daily practice, in order to save face, and get positive feedback on Amazon.
The success lies in the software that allows the company to list every single item that is available from SBS, J&B, or QBP, without having to input it manually, or stock it in the store. Nearly every customer buys from Niagara Cycle because it is the cheapest. This is because their overhead costs (payroll and rent [less warehouse space]) are lower.
If you buy elsewhere, consider it a tithe and offering towards a better biking society. If you buy from Niagara Cycle, that is an affirmation, in my informed opinion, of the lowest common denominator.