^ordering online yourself is usually cheaper, sometimes significantly. I think the point some are trying to make is they would rather support the lbs when the actual dollar difference isn't too big because that's the premium to pay for service and convenience, but when you remove convenience from that it's harder to justify the premium.
Exactly.
I hear you on your second point, but what's wrong with ordering a part through your LBS? And how is it different than you doing your own special order online? In either case, there are shipping costs, but if you let the LBS take time to consolidate an order with other customers, shipping is usually free.
Good point. But I needed these for the weekend, and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that I should be able to get wear items on a walk-in as needed basis from my local retailer. I was grumpy and wanted to rant.
That said, the shop I used to work at back in the UK did exactly as suggested above in that we had a selection in stock so that we could at least get any customer riding again in a pinch.
However, on this occasion it was the folks at Dizzy Cycles on 4th that came through for me. One pair of XT jockey wheels available off the shelf. Paid a bit of a premium, but I'm OK with that considering the convenience factor.