[kenjackson]

This is an interesting thesis... which is that brick and mortar can work if you also own the online alternative.

I never bought books and B&N because I knew I could get the book cheaper at Amazon. The same with toys when I used to shop at ToysRUs. But those are both goods that I'd actually like to buy on the spot. If I know that the price in the store is the same as online, I'd probably do a lot of in store purchases.

And since I'm a Prime customer, they save 2-day shipping cost to me (I'll continue to be a Prime customer).

[teirce]

I used to hold this viewpoint until I watched a video (I can't seem to find it now) that made a pretty good point. The point was something along the following: "I like book stores. I like going in and flipping through the books. Sure, I could buy the book on Amazon for $4 less, but if I keep doing that eventually book stores won't be around. And I like book stores."

Ever since then, I usually try to buy the book in B&N or wherever, provided that's where I am at the time.

(Something like a campus book store and textbooks, however, is an entirely different case...)

[amrrs]

For such concerned customers, Amazon Book store seems to be the solution. So still you can flip the pages and buy online but Book store won't go anywhere.

[tempestn]

Is there an incentive for them to continue operating physical locations once their competitors are out of business?