I have had both good and bad local hobby shops over the years, the ones in Calif. went from kind of OK to completely useless. When I moved here I had two that were OK and one great one. One is still OK and the great one was sold and now is just OK, the third one is a total waste of time now. When I was in Calif. I mail ordered most everything, it was cheaper then driving down the mountain just to be told: We can Order That for You. Hobby King has about a three week turn around time but if it says the item is on back order you will get it sooner or later, much later!! Six months or more sometimes. That local warehouse is a total sham and stocks almost nothing. I did get a reply to my 24 hours on line question but only to be told they don't have the item there in stock. The shipping from China is often more then the products ordered. I have had great luck with there electric motors and batteries without any problems but our last order from them was a bit of a shock, the shipping was the same cost as all the products we ordered.
With gas prices we now have it's about the same price for me to have items mail ordered then to drive across town to my local hobby shop. I have now gotten in the habit of phoning them to see if they have the items needed in stock before I bother driving there. If I get that, We Can Order that for you from them, well, I can order it myself without having to drive to pick it up. State side orders only take three to four days, I get my stuff faster then the hobby shop. Not to mention the new owner of what used to be the good hobby shop is a butthead.