You can network to folks 2-3 hours away, get someone to help out, and meet you half-way, return the favor in kind. BF is pretty good for that.

Or, you can consider shipping to be a built-in cost of doing business, and surf CL in places like here in NC, where certain BF members have been known to pick up and ship bikes....Then it's a matter of "no bikes" vs. "bikes plus shipping." Not a bad trade-off.

Think outside the box, surf CL in some place you think may be a good market, and find an BF member there who may help you out. PayPal makes it a lot easier, too. Generally, if the bikes are being snatched up in your area, parts are widely available, and reasonable, so you can help someone else by getting parts and shipping them,.....

+1 on the LBS idea, too. Mine notifies me of trades, even lets me look at them and make an offer, so he can give a trade allowance in kind to a potential new bike buyer. I picked up a pair of his/hers touring bikes that way, for $125/pair. I had time, cleaned em up, sold them for $125 each via him. He kept 10% and I got my time out of it, almost enough for an Ironman fix...