[saaaaaam]

That’s fine if you have one near to you, don’t have mobility issues that make it hard to visit or accessibility issues that make book print hard to read. And it stocks the kinds of books you want to read. Without being all woke about it, indie book stores can be great if you like reading the sorts of books your particular local flavour of indie book stores stocks.

[Marsymars]

Most indie bookstores will happily order books for you from the publisher/distributor if they don't have them in stock.

[dingaling]

At which point I might as well order from the publisher's website instead of having to explain to a shop owner what I want.

[Marsymars]

May work better in some countries than others; e.g. checking the book I'm currently reading that's published by Hachette, my local indie book store sells it for the same price as amazon.ca, (and I can easily order online, there's no need to "explain to a shop owner what I want") but Hachette doesn't seem to have any B2C online front that I'm able to order from.

[badgersnake]

Small violin for you.