LBS vs discount prices

[Cataboo]

Meh. I bought a bike once at a LBS paying retail - it didn't fit - but was told it did. Basically they had very few models for short people, I think. On craigslist or ebay, I can buy bikes cheaper and whether or not they fit is purely my own responsibility and I can't blame anyone else. I prefer cheaper bikes.

I can't say I've found any of my local bike shops overly knowledgable or useful or helpful. I like one slightly more than the other, so I do go there occasionally when I need something like a chain or rim tape - something that it doesn't make sense for me to pay the shipping on. If I am going to have to pay full price - I will go to my local bike shop and pay it there. If I'm going to only save $5-10 from buying online, then no, I'm not going to bother buying online. If I can get 50% off... then yeah, I am buying it online. Quite often I buy from small sellers on ebay - and yes, they are someone's local bike shop somewhere. They may not be my local bike shop, but they are a local bike shop.

I don't particularly feel any loyalty or like there's some great knowledge source I'm getting from either of my local bike shops.