Slightly different perspective here. I'm a newbie to reefing (just over a year), and I've experienced a mix of online shops (BRS, Marine Depot, SaltWater Aquarium. WWC, LA) and local shops. My preference lately has been to shop local to support the businesses. But it's hard to develop any rapport or trust at the local shops when it may be only my first or second visit / purchase to a store. I also want to support the online folks because they provide so much "free" information that I'd like to support them for these efforts.
But what I have experienced locally is that there are some stores that just want the quick sale, and there are those that will be helpful and guide me. The "quick sale" shops also seem to be the ones where there are dead fish, large aiptasia colonies, and trying to sell "sizzle". My plan is to focus on only a few local shops and deal only with them, and hopefully over time we'll develop trust in each other.
But what I have experienced locally is that there are some stores that just want the quick sale, and there are those that will be helpful and guide me. The "quick sale" shops also seem to be the ones where there are dead fish, large aiptasia colonies, and trying to sell "sizzle". My plan is to focus on only a few local shops and deal only with them, and hopefully over time we'll develop trust in each other.