Taking the plunge into buying online should not be scary. I think the general consensus of Club members is there are no good sources for parts from any of the local bike shops. They keep nothing in stock, don't want to deal with old bikes at all, and (most) of the parts people haven't got a clue.
The online aftermarket for bike parts has exploded, and if it weren't for Ebay and online shopping, I probably wouldn't even be in this hobby.
The only thing to be worried about is shipping. You need to avoid any seller (from the US) that uses FedEx or USP. Any that will ship USP (United States Postal Service) or if using Ebay their international shipping program, are fine. The problem with USP and FedEx is they charge for bogus brokerage fees.
Otherwise, I have bought hundreds of parts online with absolutely no problems.
If you buy from a Canadian supplier like Fortnine, its even better. Free shipping right to your door.
Peace & Parts, Dennis