This is only true if you have a good local ski shop. We have a local ski shop: it is insane expensive, they have a ton of last year's model skis that they are selling at the same price as the current model, the sales people are rude, other than heat molding a liner they don't know how to fit a boot, the service shop puts up a huge fight every time I want something center mounted...
...and one time, a salesperson was helping me with some L1 outerwear: this particular model jacket was really long, I asked if they had something shorter in the same material. She said, "No, long is good, so you won't be cold when you're sitting in the snow doing your bindings." I said, "actually, I'm a skier." She said "oh..." and walked away and no one helped me for the rest of the day.
...so I buy online mostly...