Bought a BX2200, 60" mid mower and loader two weeks ago from Ruwet-Sibley, an established dealer in northwestern Connecticut. They had 7 BX's in stock at that time. Price, after some competitive research, local proposal-getting and negotiation. was 12% off factory list--ie, about $12,600 with bar turf tires and the better loader valve. I had a better tax-included price from a close cross-border dealer (ie, who would have delivered for free and who wouldn't have charged sales tax), but I decided to go with the local dealer because I liked him and I am interested in after-market service and a long-term relationship.
Also shopped Carver and Tractorsmart on the internet. Both were courteous, helpful and knowledgeable, but neither had any products on hand to ship. Moreover, their prices were not really any better when shipping is included. They were both in the $13,300 - $13,500 range with shipping. Since they were advertising my package at $12,000, this means the "shipping" charge for about 800 miles was in the $1,300 to $1,500 range.
I put the word "shipping" in quotes because there are two possibilities. First, this could be the actual shipping cost incurred by the internet dealer. If that is the case, surely, with some research effort on the part of a buyer and a motivated dealer, one can match or beat these internet prices even after local sales tax is included. A motivated local dealer should be able to match the internet seller's equipment price, and even the highest state sales tax (NY?) should be less than the internet dealer's shipping charge. Probably the most price-effective strategy would be for a buyer who lives close to cross-border deaker and who can get free delivery--and warranty service!--after a 12%-15% discount, with no sales tax at all. That is the kind of deal I did in fact negotiate, but which I then passed-up for the reasons stated above. The second possibility is that the internet shipping charge is not all shipping, but in fact includes packed-in dealer profit. If that is the case, the package price should be further negotiable, but I would question the the business practices of such a dealer and probably would not want to do business with him. I hasten to add that I have NO evidence that the shipping charge from the two dealers I mentioned is anything other than what they say it is. Perhaps they would care to comment.