Actually this supplier is in Canada ; from BC and has great price. So an experiment with a small shipment is warranted to see the end results of this method over the incredible price differences.
Thanks for your input .
If you can find Canadian shippers that will guarantee overnight delivery, I would definitely order online. The only livestock I have which was locally purchased are my three snails.
There are pros and cons to each method. At a fish store, you can actually see the specimen you're buying. As you've noticed, though, you're paying for the store's overhead, so prices can be higher, even when accounting for shipping costs. Some people don't feel comfortable buying something sight-unseen off the Internet, but in fairness to most major US livestock sellers, the specimens they send out are usually in good health.
I would try to find some reviews on the retailer before you buy live animals from them. We're spoiled in the US to have a wealth of both sellers and reviews available, so I can't necessarily speak to your specific situation, but if you can't find good reviews I'd stay away.
Not to threadjack, but I'm definitely with
@DaveK on Pacific East Aquaculture. I'm really lucky to have them nearby. I usually do the zone one shipping option, which is a $20 shipping rate if you pick up the package at a UPS distribution center. I can usually get 5 to 6 bargain bin frags for less than $100 shipped if I make the 20 minute trip to my local UPS facility.