Should I feel guilty buying online and not local?

[mbauer013]

I'm a lucky guy, I have two close LHBS's - Midwest Supplies and Northern Brewer, however even with those guys so close (MW is literally 4 blocks from my house) I don't buy most of my grain or hops from them. My club does bulk buys usually twice a year, so I buy my base malt and hops through that. What I get from the LHBS is specialty malt, small fittings, random hops that I'll never use a lb of, and yeast. I love to support MW, NB staff aren't as helpful so I don't really go there except for rare malts, but when I can get maris otter for 70 cents a lb, it's hard to buy local.

 

[Hernando]

My LHBS is about a 15 minute drive and even though they cost more than online prices I love going there. The LHBS is connected to Dry Dock brewery so I can go in and get a pint of beer and walk through the LHBS while enjoying said pint and get the stuff I need. The people that run the LHBS are the same people that help brew the beers for Dry Dock so their knowledge is extensive. I feel it is good to keep money flowing locally but if I am ever in a pinch and need to get something online then I wouldn't hesitate. Times are hard for a lot of us and sometimes you have to go sheaper to keep the passion going.