I work in sales. I have customers come in and use my expertise every week who then think they are outsmarting me by purchasing from a warehouse online.
I still shop online for convenience myself, and competition is the key to capitalism, but there are two more dark implications involved in NOT supporting your local businesses,that you didn’t touch on.
1. You are hurting your local economy by not keeping dollars circulating in your area.
2. You are hurting your local economy by not having the taxes collected go to your own community.
You may feel like any time you pay a higher price for something you are being “ripped off” and perhaps sometimes you are, but if you go in and use a brick and mortar store as an extension of the online store you are supporting you are in fact ripping off the B&M for the rent, utilities, overhead, training, and information they provide you with as well.