Their service dept. does suck - been there twice and they either pissed me off for scratching the crap out of my freshly painted rims, or couldn't figure out how to recharge my shock.
However, I have scored countless deals on gear for myself and my sons on clearance. When the kids outgrow their stuff every year, ya shop the clearance racks. And, I bought a new Shoei RF-SR in January there for $30 less than any online retailer. Granted, most of their stuff is either full retail or same price as online sellers, but good deals can be found. And it's right there ready to take home.