I am lucky enough to have a great lfs. I support them, as do others, so they can keep their doors open. I like to see the livestock I am getting. Not just a pic but the actual animal. If it cost a little more so be it. I research on line and have my lfs order.
ALtho I have seen many a deal online, I have always gotten my fish from the LFS just so I can see what im getting and all. Plus, shipping for live creatures almost always makes the cost of online more expensive than the LFS. For dry goods tho, I'll go online any day!
I get my stuff from a great LFS here in Phoenix (Aquatouch...go buy stuff from em..lol)
Best fish I got from them so far is a 1/2 black pygmy angel. They had it in trade and after going thru their quarantine and eating well, I picked him up for about $30 after taxes.
'Sparky' is now happy as heck in his new home...swimming around nibbling on the coralline and happily eating from my hand during feeding time (friends think that's cool)
They have the cleanest tanks and of all the FS I've ever been in I have *Never* seen one sick/diseases/dead fish in any of their many tanks.
Great coral selection, great LR curing tanks, great Mangrove setup and a very knowledgable staff.
All that said, these are thing you just can't get from an online retailer...
I purchase 90% of my merchandise, dry goods and livestock, at my LFS. I like to do business with LFS because they give me the oportunity to view livestock before I buy it there, so it's very important for them to stay in business!
Livestock, LR, any media and food comes from the LFS. I am picky about the appearance of things in my tank, so I like to pick out the pieces of live rock for myself. As far as livestock, yeah, I buy it all at the LFS. I like to see my critters and make sure they are healthy before I buy them.
I buy equipment online because it's just plain cheaper.