Recently, I had the opportunity to compare web vs local merchant
prices for a couple of dive thingies.

One was a computer.  The Leisure Pro price, at today's exchance rate
(.764 $US = 1 real dollar) was $366 plus shipping.  Let's call it
$400.  My local dive shop is charging me $430.  I'm buying from the
local shop, but for this post, that's one for the the web.

Then there are the flights for my next trip.  From expedia and
travelocity, the best per person prices I could find were in the $2300
range.  My local travel agent is getting me there and back for ~$1900
per head.  That's one for the local merchant.

For the curious, the computer is a wrist mounted Oceanic Versa 2, and
the travel itinerary is YYZ ==> NAN ==> YYZ.

Dan Bracuk
If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure.
The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/