I'm usually the one that chimes in to say support your LFS, rather than buy online. For lighting, I've found that LFSs just don't have any selection.
Be sure that PC lighting is what he wants. Take him to Fishy in Bayshore, his tanks all have T-5 on them which are getting great reviews, and seem to have numerous benefits over PC. They're brighter, and to me at least, look much better than PCs. Not to mention that they run cooler.
Tell him to decide what he wants to keep. If he's looking for Stoney corals and/or clams, don't waste time and money "testing" things out, go right into metal halide with VHO or T-5 supplementation.
It couldn't hurt to talk to Don at Aquahut, or one of the guys at PW, either. Just be sure you know what you like first. LFS tend to push what they have to sell, not so much what you like/want.