Is buying a guitar online a good idea?

I would like my dad to buy me a new bass guitar for my birthday. I'm after an Ibanez SR305M, blue bass. I've seen it on a reliable site (gearsformusic) but my dad keeps saying I shouldn't get it on the internet and I should go to a shop. Is it ok to buy guitars online? If not please tell me a shop in West Yorkshire in the UK that sells a starlight blue Ibanez SR305M bass.