Service is the main thing but I find Chainreaction far more reliable and often cheaper than my LBS even when i worked there we hardly have anything usefull in stock.

Online is conveinient and they generally can afford to stock much more but if a bike shop gives a good service i'd rather buy through them.

I agree with supporting the high street but to be honest not at my own expence or inconvenience so if the shop can't provide I will buy online.

and its a real shame too.
this new generation of riders has been brought up on mail order purchasing and as a result has hurt the industry as a whole. as you say though once they've bought a product some of them then proceed to bugger it up and in turn proceed to their local store and are faced with a shop owner who is slightly more reluctant to do a job for them.
in the end you lose out as we'd fit a disc for free if you bought it from us.

i only use my lbs for things i need quickly, like a tube or a little tool. i would never go through them for big things unless i absoloutly had to, for the sheer fact they charge rrp and wont budge any lower, and the guy who runs it is always looking for a way to make more money out of you. my older brother bought some

I use one local bike shop (Switchback Cycles in Knaphill) and then chainreaction online, I like using the shop, even if it's just going in, having a chat for half an hour and buying an inner tube they are nice guys who enjoy riding so know what they are on about. If there prices were the same or close to CRC then I would use Switchback cycles all the time, but at the moment I don't have much money, so haven't been buying much stuff!

Ultimately, a shop is a business & there to make money, like every business.

I do use both, but out of choice, I would go for mail order/internet because I refuse to pay the huge differences in price, or beat the shop up so they will price match, which they do...

Fact is alot of these online bikeshops....are bikeshops! They provide a service as well, most a good service with goood prices. Ok so we shoudld all stop shopping online people who needs to save money! 

1/2)I always try to buy local where I can, unless theres a ridiculous bargain to be had or I need a particular part very quick.

3) I find that kinda cheeky to be honest, I'm not entirely comfortrable doing that...

4) LBS

5) I like having decent help and banter close to home that I can pop out to whenever I need to (up till 7 at night in one case) and get a cup of coffee into the bargain. When was the last time CRC offered you a coffee or hot chocolate on a cold night?

Fact of the matter is that whilst Glasgow might be ass for local DH it has 3 excellent shops in the city centre(ish) who are run by people who actually care about what they're doing and will offer a decent service. If they can't do it for you there and then they'll send you on to one of the others if they think you want it done in a hurry and fit things for free if you've bought off of them. Oh and we also have Wheelcraft out in the hills who make excellent wheelbuilds (as if you never guessed) as well as the good banter thing...

I use online bike shops for 99% of my bike stuff.
The reason being - I dont really need anyones advice from a bike shp because if I dont know something or I want an opinion Ive got plenty of rider mates, plus everyone on this forum to give me some help.
It is worthwhile to note that I do have a good local bike shop. They have all the equiptment and all the know-how, but after a couple of trips and a couple of sales I didnt feel comfortable with the service. I felt they were pushing me to spend money unnecessarily and they werent treating me as well as they could of.
I only go there to get jobs done which I cant do myself - headtube faced, headset pressed in and BB fitted.

I feel that if they wanted my regular custom they should have dealt with me differently.