Michaela,
I wonder if the company you referenced may have intended to do the work online or accepted an online researchers assurance that they could. Once they learned the job couldn't be completed online they would have been forced to turn to a local independent. Your local competition may not have undercut your fees but thought had received a new client who recognized the search could only be completed from the official records at the courthouse. I doubt the company would have admitted this to you, your competion or their client.

David