I work part time at a local dive shop in the states. I find people fall into a couple of categories. There are one's that are loyal to the local dive shop and look to the LDS for advice and purchase equipment from them. Then there are people that either have a hodge podge of borrowed gear or bought the cheapest thing they could find thinking if it looks like a mask or snorkel what is the difference and they will not let you educate them.

Finally there are people who are internet saavy and will "shop". The problem is that most of this equipment is purchased from non-authorized dealers and is mail order with poor exchange policies and no warranties as it is sold by an un-authorized dealer.

Word of caution, you can buy mail order but check the manufacturer's stance on mail order and it the retailer is an authorized dealer. Just last weekend I had a guy tell me about Scubapro and their lifetime warranty. (my shop sells scubapro, I am an authorized Scubapro Service Tech too). Well he bought a scubapro regulator through a big mail order company and needed the regulator serviced thinking he would get his parts for free. The service cost him more than the regulator as he did not have a warranty due to his miseducation. He was highly pee'd when I gave him the cost estimate. So as opposed to paying $75 a year for annual service on his regulator he will now pay close to $175 a year.

As a result of his miseducation and being so hot to get a deal he will pay more in the long run than if he paid a little more up front. Plus he will still have no warranty.

Just my two cents.