While I'm pretty new to posting on this forum, I've noticed a common thought between a lot of people, mainly that "Local music stores charge WAY more than online". In my experience, my local store is actually a lot CHEAPER. I got my flute, a solid silver Amadeus for about $500 dollars less than what it would have cost me online. I'm not trying to cause a disagreement, or bash online buying (because I love Fluteworld and WWBW) but I thought that it would be a different topic.

I had a similar experience when I bought my Azumi in April. Not only was it cheaper than online, but I mentioned that I would be paying cash and they took another $200.00 off the price.

I liked the Azumi 3000 a lot, too... but when I got a trial of that and my Amadeus AF900, my teacher liked my sound better on the Amadeus. It's amazing what other people can figure out about your playing.

When I went to buy my new flute my husband went with me and I tried several Yamahas and the Azumi 3000. The Yamahas sounded okay, but the sound when I played the Azumi was amazing. My hubby commented that he didn't know I could sound so fabulous.
The headjoint just suites me so well.

Online vs. Local may be one in the same depending on where you live. If you live in Charlotte, NC, then JL Smith would be local. If you live in Plano, TX, then Carolyn Nussbaum would be local. These brick and mortar stores also have an online presence.

While I did my 14K headjoint trials with Carolyn Nussbaum via UPS, a friend of mine actually travelled to TX so that he could do it in person at their store. We also ended up with different HJs, he hated my 14K Williams and bought a 14K Brannen instead.

Also, when you are talking high-end professional flutes, many times one is ordering directly from the manufacturer and not from a local music store. When I ordered my Haynes back in 1972 I had to wait 6 months for it to be made (an eternity for a high school kid). I am now waiting 5 months for Brannen to make my new flute with C# Trill, Split-E with Inline-G, and D# roller at A-442 (which also seems like an eternity)

I am going to get the Amadeus 900 and I also found that it turns out cheaper to buy from my local store than online but I think it also depends on where you live and where you look online.

I did buy my flute during the store's yearly sale, so I got it for a really good price. Now I'm planning on trying out a piccolo from Nancy Shinn at Flutestar, instead of my local store.