Discussions

I always try to shop local if possible. Needed a V belt for my tiller. Went to the local stores with the old belt to match it up. Neither places would match it up, they needed part number or model number. Went home and measured it up and 4 days later amazon sent me the belt. Works perfect.

First mistake was probably where you went. Something as simple as a belt your only stop should have been Brandon bearing. Width, length and done.

First off, I agree with you that it's pretty poor service on the local shop's account to not be able to match up the belt that you brought in.  
 
I'm thinking though, sounds like you went to a web search that responded with "a 36" V-belt for this unit is part #123456 " ? You could have given that part # to the local guys and gotten the belt same-day ?

He shouldn't have to go home and look up a part number and make multiple trips. They should be able to look it up for him. Why should he do their job? I have encountered this before trying up buy local but after similar experiences I'll just buy online, save usually quite a bit and have it in a few days. If the local outfit don't want to try then they clearly don't want the business.

That sometimes (often) works, but we've also had instances where we've tried to buy local, only to have them order online anyway, pay the mark-up, and still have to go back to pick it up. This seems to happen a lot with appliance parts.  
 
I will pay extra/mark-up if you have it on hand and I can take it home today, but not if you're ordering it from the same website I am going to anyway.

i went to Brandon Bearing and they didn’t have one in stock. Next went to every auto supply store, with none in stock. Then went to the 2 yard equipment suppliers and both said they would not match it up. They both said they would have it but would not dig through the thousands of belts to find it without a number. Went home measured the width and length and type it into amazon. $12.00 and no shipping. Four days later in the mail box. I don’t need it until this fall so 4 days is nothing.