There are good LBS and there are bad LBS. I agree, it depends on who's behind the counter when you walk in the door. I can't see buying a bike on line if you've never even sat on it. Buy accessories, ok, but bike, not so much. Even if you do buy a bike on line, as mentioned, unless you know how to put the thing together, you're still going to need a LBS to finish the job. I visited several LBS here and wasn't keen on paying full retail for my bike. By asking around to other riders, I was given the name of a place 1 hour away. It was a little more than I wanted to drive, but the price and excellent service was worth it all. And yes, I have gone back since and had the bike retuned. It's so worth the time to be with people who know what they're doing, care about you and your bike and make you feel like you're getting a good price. Check around, ask other riders and fine a good fit for you.