Originally Posted by
Hippiebrian
The more people who go online to save a few bucks the more local businesses fail. The less local businesses there are, the less local jobs there are. The less local jobs there are, the higher unemployment is. The higher unemployment is, the more people who shop on line to save a few bucks whine about how the government is causing joblessness.
Go figure...
I don't generally go online to save a few bucks. I go online when prices are half or less of local prices. I paid $600 for my dishwasher at the locally owned appliance store instead of $450 at Best Buy (for the same model) to keep the money local. However, when it came to buying a 42" LCD TV a few years back, online I got the thing for $800, locally it was $1700 for the same model. Screw that.
Similar story with the LBS. I'm about to order a set of SPD compatible pedals and cleats for $35. Locally the cheapest set I can find is about $100. Sorry, not paying 3x as much. I'm also looking at a trailer. 2 wheel cargo trailers on eBay are $120 shipped. $300 locally. Again, close to 3x as much.
If the prices were anything like close, say up to 50% more, I'd buy locally. Or if the LBS was something I really needed, like if I had no ability to fix my own bike and really needed them to be around. But as I said up-thread, my experience is that the LBS are less competent wrenchers than I am.