I think I have spent...$50? Ever? At Guitar Center, for strings. Never bought anything else from there. Guitars have been local shops, amps have been local shops, pedals have been internet magic.
Guitar Center was useful if there were local musicians on hard times and idiots setting prices. I bought a pair of Auratones there for $65 and a Roland A-80 for $90. It was ghastly otherwise, though - the original one on Hollywood Blvd had a 32-fader Digidesign Icon that people had slowly, steadily pulled all the knobs off of and they left it there like a sacrificial boar in a river full of piranhas.
I used to try and get everything from local shops, but they all disappeared. I use SweetWater most of the time now. I know they're huge and probably a subsidiary of GC... who knows. I do like that I have time to test drive stuff and send it back if I don't like it. Plus... they send candy. I wonder if there are some sales happening in their stores? I should go.