I'm all for supporting my LHS and will do so in a pinch. I pretty much know what he carries and what he can order and when he can get it. Using that a basis of understanding I will also go out on the internet and order elsewhere.
You can't beat the LHS when it comes to a part you have to have yesterday and you know he carries it.
I wish I was like 'ebeygin'; he knows what he needs days in advance and has the insight to pre-order it. Unfortunately, I'm like probably 99% of the other people in the hobby :stupid: that finds out what he needs when I turn the page on the instruction manual or when I put the stopper into the fuel tank that came with the kit and watch the fuel tank split down the side
. My van ride to the LHS is certainly a lot faster than UPS in that situation -- i'd be flying rather
than twiddling my thumbs waiting for mail.