Doesn't surprise me. I would think it was the established shop asking more, and the new one asking less. Or there could have been other factors.
I'd be glad to pay 20% more overall if I had a LDS within 50 miles of my home, but I don't - so I try to educate myself, and then shop on the net only out of necessity. But a funny thing happened to me on a BC buy this week...
I knew that I wanted to move from an Oceanic Probe to the new Probe QLR, $600 retail, $325 Leisure-Pro, then I asked a Calf shop for a quote? $280, and from an authorized dealer! I was on that like a duck on a june bug.
Came in yesterday, took it home and unpacked, and - started missing some things. It was a "Ocean Pro." I was on the phone as soon as they opened this morning!
The supervisor assigned to troubleshoot my complaint said that they carried both, and he'd ship me the Probe QLR - for $535. I told him he must know that I could buy that at L-Pro for $325, and he agree to meet the price. Then I told him I needed it no later that 7 days from now, and - he admitted to not having it in stock, but if Oceanic would overnight it to him, he'd overnight it to me, for the same money. I agreed, advising I knew he'd lose money, but we'd both remember this. He called back an hour later saying he couldn't make it; bought it at L-Pro.
I shipped the cheaper BC back, attention the fellow I'd worked with today, with a missive advising: "I didn't know that they carried 2 BCs that sound alike, but the salesman did, and should have confirmed the order by spelling P-R-O or P-R-O-B-E. Since the mistake was at his end, I wanted a refund including shipping." We'll see...??