Reasons For Existence - Post a comment

Last December my daughter chose several books she wanted for Christmas at a local store. The prices were quite high, so I made a mental note to check online. Not only was everything several dollars cheaper (many were half price), but most sellers offered free shipping if you bought a certain amount. Since I had plenty of time, most of the items were purchased this way.

I've ordered stuff online since 1996, but usually for things that couldn't be found locally, like a CD I couldn't find, or an obscure movie no one remembered. Most places these days only seem to carry greatest hits or compilations. You can find anything on the internet, and now that free shipping is offered, it is a lot cheaper as well. But what gets to me is when I go into a book store now, I look at the book, then the price, then go home and buy it online.

Which is fine, but what happens if the physical stores go away? Would we end up paying the same high prices, as well as shipping from online sellers because there is no other option?

That would bite.