Original purchase price is only one part of cost of ownership. That's a one time event and when it's over, it's over. MAINTENANCE is a continuing expense for the life of the weapon. Having to send the crossbow off to a shop to have the string and/or cables changed every few hundred shots? Not only is that going to be expensive, but you'll potentially be without your crossbow for weeks at a time.

How long would it take for the shipping and maintenance costs - not to mention theinconvenience! -to offset the lower purchase price for the crossbow packages that seem at first glance to be more affordable?

Personally, I would not own a compound crossbow if I had no access to a local shop.And I don't.