I wouldn't spend $500 dollars extra to buy local, but in principal, I always try to support local before buying online. They are your neighbors, so to speak; they shop the same places you do, their local taxes benefit you, and if you have a local business, possibly they support you. These are just a few advantages of shopping local. I believe in it, if I can remotely afford it.
I just bought new tires for the truck, and I could have saved about $10 per tire ordering online. No way is that $10 worth the benefit of loyal service from my tire shop of choice; and in return, that tire shop financially supports a golf tournament that our youth group puts on each year as a fund raiser. Not only that, but that tire shop actually has 3 local businesses, and each of them sponsor us- I really doubt if Tirerack will be a hole sponsor, investing $750 each year into our local youth...
I just bought new tires for the truck, and I could have saved about $10 per tire ordering online. No way is that $10 worth the benefit of loyal service from my tire shop of choice; and in return, that tire shop financially supports a golf tournament that our youth group puts on each year as a fund raiser. Not only that, but that tire shop actually has 3 local businesses, and each of them sponsor us- I really doubt if Tirerack will be a hole sponsor, investing $750 each year into our local youth...