Of course I expect to pay some profit (and operating costs) for items, but I don't expect to be paying excessive profit.
If I see that an online store sells a pump for $15, but a local store sells it for $30, then I am assuming that the wholesale cost is LESS than $15 (because why would even the wholesale guys sell it for less than it costs them? OK, even factoring in that they can get it for cheaper than the LFS can, due to huge volume ordering) So without the massive volume discount, I'm guessing the pump does not cost the LFS more than $15 (or else the LFS would have bought it from the online source for $15 and sold it to me instead of getting it wholesale, right?).
Basically, if I see something at a store, if it's seems reasonably priced, I'll buy it. (Like if it's $5 in store, but $4 online, I'll buy it at the store) If it's something like buying something more expensive like a skimmer, then I'll shop online to get the $300 skimmer instead of paying $400 locally.
I have actually purchased a skimmer locally, even though it was cheaper online because the LFS employee told me all about it, and I've wondered that LFS a few times and chatted with them. BUT the skimmer was a Prizm, and it didn't really work that well, and the employee also sold me on some Marc Weiss crap making all sorts of fake claims. So I've never gone back to that store.
I was trying to be loyal, but it was hard in that case. In another case, there is a LFS that I go to for freshwater fish and snails and stuff, even though they are a bit more expensive, just because I like the store and the employees...however for some things (like pumps) they are WAY expensive. I'm not paying $40 for a maxijet 600.
If a store wants happy customers...they have to make the customers happy. Even just being polite is important, as I've boycotted stores and restaurants (not just LFS) due to rude customer service. However if a store has friendly good customer service, I'll come back.
V