This is the big problem. Stock. If a local store does not stock what I want then there no incentive for me to buy from them. I can order it as easy as the shop. Like Rob, eventually I will give up on a shop if everytime I look for something they don't have it in stock.
The other "issue" local shops have is knowledge. I suspect I'm pretty much normal in that before I decide to buy I research the crap out of whatever I'm interested in on the internet. I go to a shop for advice and I likely know more about that specific item then the sales person. There is very little value added. This is not a knock on the sales person. How can they know everything about everything?
My policy has to do with supporting local business. If the price is close and the item is in stock I'll buy locally. If not, I try to order through a Canadian internet seller and if that fails I order internationally via the web.
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