I'll start the responses off, ryorgason.
1) Patronize your
LFS if you approve of the way they keep their fish, and if the employees are helpful. If you see lots of dead fish in the tanks, or if the employees are particularly unpleasant, no reason to buy there. I generally buy at
LFS-s where I feel they care for their fish and animals. Keep in mind that most
LFS-s can stock a particular fish if you ask them to get it from their distributors.
2) Many ppl here have a problem with large stores because they a) represent what's wrong with the capitalist system--taking the "mom and pop" out of the fish business--and b) because they often take poor care of their fish. I've seen both well-kept Petsmarts and horribly-kept Petcos (and vice versa). Go to these stores if they give you a better selection, and if you feel the
LFS takes poor care of its fish.
3) Online shopping is best for those who are seeking a very specific fish they can't get in any of their local stores. All sites that ship fish must charge you the price of the fish (can sometimes be cheaper than locally) and the shipping charge, which is staggering. Given the fact that the fish must be shipped overnight or occassionally by 2-day delivery, you're looking at an absolute minimum of $30 for any order. Usually a lot more! Have I ordered online? Yes and No. I got Blue Crayfish online (see my gallery), but I got free shipping with my winning auction. The crayfish do not need to be shipped in water, so they can be shipped cheaply! Otherwise, do I need to order online? Nosiree. I live in NYC, where fish selection is mighty good. I've seen a lot of cool fish in even my
LFS! I've seen a
FW stonefish, elephant nose, blue lobsters (not fish...), asian leaf fish, bichirs, over 20 species of pleco, to name a few. However, if I wanted a rare fish such as a zebra pleco, I might consider ordering online...
All in all, your best bet is #1 or #2. Evaluate your
LFS and take it from there.
HTH.