but otherwise it’s local if possible, or direct from the vendor if not.

The problem I find is that local usually means “you’re gonna pay a lot more for the same item you can get shipped for free off Amazon”.

So, who am I benefitting? It’s a horrible consumer dilemma that I hate to be caught up in.

And it’s not even an “Amazon” issue. Our local bike shop, as much as I really do like to support them, sells tires for 2-3x more than what I pay to get them shipped in from an online bike store out of Germany (I’m in Canada!). Supporting local only works when local isn’t trying to screw you over.