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Acquiring my Spider

Living where I do, just walking into a shop and buying a spider isn't an easy task. Actual pet shops are few and far between, and in general I don't even like them. With my fish, I prefer to get them from a specialist store - Someone who knows their livestock inside and out, can give me accurate care information, and can help when things go wrong. Why would this be any different for a spider? I have done some looking around, and due to my not being able to drive, my best option for getting my pet spider is mail order. This makes me so anxious. There are a lot of webstores around which will ship out a jumping spider. There are even a lot of independent breeders I could buy from on social media, and then there are those less reputable people who go out into the world and catch the spiders from the wild for a profit. (Fortunately, due to Phiddipus regius being an American species, the number of these latter people in the UK appears to be next to none).
Fortunately, while social media may be a hive of scumbags and villains disreputable breeders, it is also a great source of information. Prior to actually buying a sider, I was able to join a number of Facebook groups and internet forums where I was able to acquire a list of recommended distributers. Amongst this list were Portsmouth Tarantulas, Creatures from the North, Bug Pets, The Spider Shop, and Tarantula Room. (Note: These are all UK based spider shops as I live in the UK!)
There are a few things to consider when choosing my distributor - Can they ship my spider to me without harming the spider? What species do they have available? Are they good value for money? And can they give me decent advice on spider care if I am to encounter a problem? I am sure there are a great many more things to consider, but these are my primary concerns.
I am a sentimental sod, and when presented with a list of unknown entities, I looked for things I could relate to. I am from Portsmouth, and am drawn to Wales, so the first stores I looked at were Portsmouth Tarantulas and The Spider Shop (based in Pembrokeshire). Again, social media has been my friend in this matter. Taking to YouTube, I have been able to find a selection of "unboxing" videos from my chosen shops. In watching these videos, I have been able to ascertain the validity of the live arrival guarantees of the respective stores. I was actually surprised, as I didn't really think one could guarantee the live arrival of an animal sent through the ostal service - there are so many factors to consider - but actually, not a single video I watched contained an instance where the spiders arrived dead. Through watching these videos, I was able to assess not only the packaging of the spiders, but also the customer service of the shops. Both appear to be very reputable distributors, but in the end I have decided to go with The Spider Shop.
The Spider Shop sell not only the secies I am interested in, but also what appears to be a very good value for money "starter set" for keeping the spider, including the tank, substrate, decor, and a water sray bottle. It also includes the first pack of food that I will need for the spider. The terrarium is a flat pack acrylic box, so some assembly will be required, but there are how-to videos on the website.
I order my spider next week, and I am actually quite excited!
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