I'm lucky,
High Gravity Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies is only an hour away (but I'm usually in Tulsa at least once a week anyway) and they also sell online. This is where I first learned about the dishwasher thing.
I've read horror stories on other forums about some home brew shops. These people have to rely on good online sellers like High Gravity, Austin Home Brew, Midwest and others.