Well the internet is double edge sword.  With it, you can search the
entire country (or world) for the item that you are looking for - which
may be rare or unavailable in your area.  However, finding a deal is more
difficult however, because now the rest of the country can find the same
item that you are interested in.  It also raises asking prices, because
the rest of the country can see what Vanagons sell for in Cailfornia, or
at Go Westy and now feel they should ask the same high prices - even if
really only clean examples or rare items (Syncro Westy) are vans that
people will have shipped or travel far for.

I also missed out on the 88 in Idaho.  If it was a song, I was going to
go fot it, despite being over 1,500 miles away from me.  However, had
someone not posted it to the list, I would have never known about it.

What's better? - Depends on the situation and what side of the fence you
are on at the time.

John

Pssssss- anyone got a line on clean rust free Westy cheap with a blown
motor - p-mail me, I'll give you a finders fee if you keep it quiet!  ; )