While I do agree it's probably best to get from his/her LFS, there is sometimes more to it than that - my LFS is crap, I rarely get out because I'm disabled, and mail order's been a lifesaver to me in the past. As for DOAs, with my LFS I'm more likely to get them from there, and I've not lost one via mail order yet.
Although otos are supposed to be a little bit fragile.