have to look at the overall service,
he may recommend or discourage certain products which may save you $$ in the long run,
he may also provide setup/adjustments and plain knowledge and skills the others cant,
there are times to save money
and times to pay extra for a service

If I feel like a shops prices are too high (one of the shops I shop is notoriously high) and I plan to purchase an item but am iffy because of the price I'll just ask them plainly"Is this your best price?". If it is and I feel ithe price is too high and it's worth my while to buy it somewhere else I will.

Asking if "it's his best price" gives him the opportunity to cut me a break without insulting him. Somethimes they can do it and sometimes they can't. I generally won't ask unless I feel they're high 20-25% compared to competetors(which in some cases they are)

I like to help a local shop as much as the next guy but I hunt on a limited budget.

If I like the guy I will pay more. If service is good I will pay more. I do most of my shopping online. Not b/c of price per say, but b/c it's easy and I don't have to drive 30 minutes to buy something. I order and in a couple of days it's here.

This is a great topic and definitely one in my opinion with no clear cut answer.The small pro shop can't buy in the same volume as the huge retailers,so they can't compete with those type of stores and stay in business.Yet how much more should someone pay for a product because of a smaller business's financial circumstances?My opinion is that it is directly related to the amount of service that the product requires.The more service a product may require the more I am willing to pay the person who is going to be performing that service.I would never buy a bow from other than a small pro shop(unless I purchased it used,and even then I would try to have the three pro shops within my home area find it for me)A decent pro shop owner wont gouge their customers.I believe it was Doctor Death that suggested asking if that is their best price,I have no problem with that on a large ticket item.One pro shop I have done business with and I believed was charging way on the high side,If i needed some thing I would go in the shop with a page out an archery catalog(Keystone,Lancaster)or a printed page from an internet source.I would ask if he had the particular item or if he could order it for me,showing him the page and the pricing.His pricing on those items was always a lot better.When they know what you can buy it for elsewhere they tend to do a little better.
I would always purchase locally first.WHen your bow goes out of tune during hunting season and you have been a good customer to a local shop,I am pretty confident that they will get you up and running as a priority.To the big retailers it wouldn't matter.

I would think that a good businessman pushes the limit of what he feels he can charge for an item, and still have people buy it, and shop on a repeat basis. Some people are better at maximizing thier profit better than others.

Thanks alot for the input guys. I agree with what is said and I don't mind and have been paying more but when some of his word of mouth is tainted by people complaining I thought it might have been and issue. I have been taking him people to buy their bows from him also. I will probably not mention it because he does treat me good - first name basis is always a good feeling and he treats the people I bring in good also. Thanks alot guys.