Availability and Pricing
I have 2 local wine making/brewing supply shops in my area. One is smaller than the other with a more limited selection, but better prices. I have used mostly kits at this point and have sampled some from the most prominent suppliers - Wine Expert, Mosti Mondiale, RJ Spagnols, Cellar Craft - there are others and I would be delighted to start or add to a thread that compares them. I've also used online suppliers when they offer good values. But, in general I prefer to support the locals, especially as they have been helpful at times.
Thus far I've found that for kits under $100, buying on line does not offer any price advantage as shipping is costly for heavy liquids. However, when you get in the $130 and higher range you may find deals. One supplier I've used offers product through eBay and direct from their Web site. The eBay price with shipping included is a bit better than their direct price with shipping extra and either was better than local prices. I saved $20-30 on each kit.