if i only had a dollar for every "what i would do if i were king of the forest" thread i've seen on the interwebs...

lots of very valid points here, and i take the same approach as SBRDude. if it's a part that i need to see in person, or need it now, and the price is reasonable i'll buy it from my LBS (there are 4 stores within 5 miles of my house so i have a decent selection). if it's something that i can buy online and save a considerable amount of money, and don't need it right away, then i'll order online. i don't fret over minor price differences, even on small parts that may only cost $30-$50.

time also has value as well, and it varies from person to person. if i need something and i know i can get it at the LBS, even at inflated prices, i'm willing to pay that premium for the sake of getting my bike back out on the road, as opposed to waiting a week or more for that part to come in from the online retailer.