If you buy directly from the dealer then probably yeah.
Best bet is stuff like eBay where you stand a decent chance of getting a deal.
Personally though, there's no way I'd spend more than a coupla hundred bucks on an instrument online. Any more than that and I wanna look at it and try it. As far as getting deals in person are concerned, it's all in how you present yourself. Walk in like you have a million bucks and a recording contract, carry business cards that show you as the president of a huge recording studio or something and spend a coupla months buttering the owner of the store up. Lead him to believe you're going to be making a huge studio upgrade and want to give all your business to the best store. Take a look at all the most expensive stuff and get quotes for your 'studio'.
When you have him eating out of your hand, ask him what kind of deal he can give you on the guitar you want and he'll go out of his way to cut the price, thinking that he's gonna get tons of future business from you.
Kinda dishonest, but no more than any salesperson has ever been in return.