Yes, buying locally is a viable technique for most PM buyers. If you can find a local shop that has good prices and gives good service, cultivating them is an excellent idea. Doing this will also help when it comes time to sell some silver. If you have a good local shop and they know that certain items interest their favored customers, they will often call you to let you know that something has come in that might interest you. That is a lot more convenient than dropping in from time to time just to see what they may have at the moment.