[I've been able to get things mostly $100-200 USD off or more at times online. Therefore it makes no economical sense to buy local. If it was only a different of $50-75 then I'd buy local.]
For the $100-$200 Dollars you saved, you should be able to handle the $25.00 service fee. It will still be cheaper then the Postage to ship it to MTH. I just returned a repair, MTH Premeir steam, from Pa. - Va. insured $1000.00. Cost of postage $30.00 Fed Ex. The owner saved $13.00 by not buying Insurance when he shipped it to me. That $13.00 would have seemed like a bargain had the engine been damaged in shipping.