Is it ethical to shop for an item locally and then buy it online? I struggled with that recently when I shopped for window shades.

I hadn't done a comparison in 10 years, but back then I found that mail-order websites such as Just Blinds (www.justblinds.com) and Steve's Blinds and Wallpaper (www.stevesblindsandwallpaper.com) are often significantly cheaper than local stores.

Things haven't changed much, at least on the brand I compared. The difference on three cellular shades between one local company and Steve's Blinds was $194, or 46 percent. I didn't find any Twin Cities companies willing to match online prices, but Home Depot, Lowe's and Menards tend to be more price-competitive than independent stores, even more so when they put certain shade brands on sale. Overall, I found online retailers' prices on window coverings to be lower than big-box retailers.

Most online retailers send free color samples, but I was in a hurry, so I went to a local, independent retailer to find a match. I did most of the matching myself, because it isn't ethical to take 15 to 60 minutes of a salesperson's time with no plan to buy.

Some would say it's also unethical to look at color sample books in a showroom if one plans to buy online. Retailers put a lot of money into a showroom and more to buy samples to put on display.

Kim Haines, one of the owners of the Little Blind Spot in Hopkins, says some shoppers will ask for assistance without intending to buy, but sooner or later many of them become customers because of warranties.

Some big-box retailers have a one-year warranty on coverings. After it expires, many customers with blinds purchased at big-box stores end up at independent shops for parts and repair, Haines said.

"Many of the products have a lifetime warranty on the mechanism and the fabric and three to five years on the cord," she said. "We stand behind the product."

Warranty claims tend to be easier if the blinds are purchased from a small store. Even if you don't have a receipt from 15 years ago (who would?), local retailers can look at the order information on the head rail, see that it was ordered from them and call the manufacturer about the warranty. Little Blind Spot charges $50 for warranty claims that are purchased from other stores.

Haines suggests asking several questions before buying:

• What is the warranty? Some brands will have a lifetime warranty, while others go one year. Cord warranties are shorter.

• Where do I take the shade if there is a problem and it's still under warranty? Beyond that?

• Do you sell parts for this blind?

One reason that I have purchased online, besides price, is that I have never had a problem with any of the shades. I've ordered from four companies, all without a hitch. But I know that if something goes wrong, it will be a bigger hassle than if I'd ordered locally and paid more up front.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. If you spot a deal, share it at www.startribune.com/dealspotter.