true enough as LP and Scubatoys both are authorized for selling products that they are not authorized to sell online so calling them can result in better deals and products you didn't know they carried. Another note is the price wars going on online. Several times I have contacted Scubatoys and got a cheaper price on products than what they have advertised and the same goes for LP.
in the past 2 years I spent maybe $2000 at the LDS' (all combined), LP has about maybe $6500, Scubatoys maybe $2000, Dive Rite Express at least $4000, misc other online websites take a good $2000-$3000 (ebay, scuba.com, etc). Plus I have spent about $1500 on non scuba products that got utilized for diving like my gear rack, DIY components, etc. I buy most everything online and soon with getting certified for VIP hopefully this year and starting my own reg servicing I wont need the LDS. I strongly encourage others to buy online if its clearly a better solution but you need the shops for training usually and owning a compressor should be a goal for all serious divers.
OXY- cost should not keep you out of the water, I am in debt over my eyeballs and working a dead end job but I still figure out ways to pay for gear, you would be surprised how fast your money can add up. For example I took $100 from each paycheck and any money from overtime or selling stuff and put into a fund for a drysuit as soon as I came back from cave class. So I started saving around the 20th of march and I have $1600 already. Thats about 5-8 hours over time each weeks and sellginabout $500 in stuff, although the math doesn't add up I have not stirred from my routine but if I find an extra dollar in a pocket it goes straight to the jar. only another $1800 to go and I will have a fusion drysuit, argon inflation system, undergarments, and drygloves and larger fins.