Small music shops order from sites like these and then mark the items up like hell.
A box of reeds that is 20$ on this website is 40$ in a local music shop. Also if you sign up for first chair rewards (it's free) you get free shipping on everything. Even if it is a 2$ tube of cork grease you get free shipping.
Customer service is great if something doesn't come in or if it comes in damaged then they send you another one without a problem.