Maybe it is just me after all.
I've tried to think back on a time when I've had a negative experience with any of the Aussie supplier I've dealt with over the years and I've dealt with Astro Optical, Bintel, AEC, Wildcard Innovations, ATS, York Optical so I'm not blindly defending them.
I can safely say I have met most of them personally !
Not once have I had a bad experience, not once have I said I wish I bought from OS instead.
I have on the other hand bought from OS items that I can't get here.
Mostly happy with the service although I've had to cancel my credit cards three times due to fraudulent transactions directly after the same supplier charged my CC.
That has never happened locally or with any other OS supplier.
Yes dealing over the net is perilous and I'm not blaming the supplier per sé but I can't be sure who is on the other end unless I deal over the phone.
Trying to prove to the bank that I didn't make those fraudulent transactions and waiting 12 weeks was bad enough but not knowing if I was to get my $750 back each time was worse!
I've worried about whether the items were going to be sent in good shape or whether the correct items would be sent at all.
I've had to fight with customs to release my goods on time, I've been given the runaround with orders placed and confirmation of the order received but then orders being lost and had to wait for an internal investigation.
Trying to get advice on said items after the sale was not always the easiest thing to do.
So yes I am reluctant to buy from OS, not only for the obvious reasons as stated ie. walk into a shop and see the merchandise, ask advice, easy exchange/return procedure etc etc, but because I've also had bad experiences from buying OS that I did not expect.
I don't like paying more than I have to but have also been in business and am in business myself and know from direct experience what it's like to be a small operator having to compete with the giants of the industry worldwide.
And in today's world, price is everything but something has to give in return for "cheaper" goods and usually it's advice/service and after sales care.
Like I said we have a choice and no one is forcing us to buy locally.
