I just went through ordering, receiving, using, and ultimately returning 2 of 3 $2000+ lenses by ordering through B&H.
Each lens came with free shipping.
I used the first 2 lenses for a few weeks apiece, ultimately returning them, and finally received, and kept, the 3rd ($5700) lens, again with free shipping.
Other than the mere cost of return shipping (less than $25), I was not penalized in any way for the use of the first two 2 lenses.
B&H restocked them for free.
In a mere 3 days, I had a nearly-$6000 lens delivered to my door, again for free.
Time = money.
Driving = time + money.
I would've lost far more out-of-pocket, by physically getting into my car, taking the time to drive to a camera shop, hold the lenses in my hand there, talk with the vendor for X minutes, then pay for lenses, drive back home with lenses, only to find out (later, after actual use on my own camera) that I wanted to return it ... and then lost still more time + money by driving them back to the dealer, "hoping" the small-time vendor would offer full refund after a week of use, only to go through this process again, twice.
Using B&H takes mere moments online, and I only have to walk to my door when UPS arrives.
If I need to return the item, then a simple phone call to UPS gets the item picked up at my door as well.
In my opinion, B&H Photo as such an impeccable level of service (immediate shipping, free shipping, no-charge return policy w/in 30 days, in unblemished), that I don't know why anyone would even bother with the added/unnecessary expense of "renting" a lens from a lens rental place either.
I also don't know why anyone would miss "not having a local camera store," unless they're retired and they can afford the spare time to physically doodle around driving to stores and browsing through them.
Jack