Why bother buying local?
This is a serious question I’m grappling with today. I went to the local camera store and saw a lens for my Nikon that I really wanted. They told me it was $400, ok, no big deal. I checked Amazon while still in the store and it was $336. How can I in good conscience spend more just to get it in a store? If I spend $4 extra, I can have it overnighted from Amazon (oh how I love Prime). On top of the fact of the cost – Amazon has fantastic customer support, and a great return policy. I can return the lens for just about any reason and Amazon will eat the shipping cost (in most cases). With the exception of perishable groceries (because non-perishables you can get on Amazon) – why would I shop locally? Yea, playing with an item in my hand is cool… but it’s not worth $60 to me.
Does anyone out there still buy things locally when you can get them on Amazon for cheaper? If so, Why? (Note: I realize some things aren’t necessarily economical to get shipped – like LCD TV. But for smaller stuff)
Update: For some reason this got set to one day previous – its now been fixed.
Occasionally, I will still buy books from the stores, but generally only if I am desperate for reading materials (i.e. on a trip and I don’t have enough reading materials).