>If the brick and mortar store's only value-add is providing the same information I can find online by reading the online-retailers website, then why do they deserve my business? I go into brick and mortar stores to see if they can offer me something else. Sometimes this happens, and the value makes me purchase it from the local store.
Exactly, if that's all the value they add then they are basically competing on price. I am thinking of the stores that actually guide you through the process.
One example by me: a mom and pop shop that specializes in HDTV's. You go in, often are greeted by one of the owners, and they take you through everything explaining what the specs mean, what is best for you etc. This is far more information than you can find in an Amazon description. Now don't get me wrong, if you go in there and tell them that you're not planning to buy anything they will still be more than happy to help you out, that's their business model. However I would say it's immoral to go there, tell them you are going to buy a TV, work with them to figure out exactly what you need, then go on Amazon and buy it for less.
tl;dr It's not immoral to walk into a car dealership and ask for a test drive under no pretense that you plan to buy a car, but it is immoral to spend 3 hrs. with the salesman then at the last minute say that you never even considered buying a car from them. The actual line falls somewhere in between.
Exactly, if that's all the value they add then they are basically competing on price. I am thinking of the stores that actually guide you through the process.
One example by me: a mom and pop shop that specializes in HDTV's. You go in, often are greeted by one of the owners, and they take you through everything explaining what the specs mean, what is best for you etc. This is far more information than you can find in an Amazon description. Now don't get me wrong, if you go in there and tell them that you're not planning to buy anything they will still be more than happy to help you out, that's their business model. However I would say it's immoral to go there, tell them you are going to buy a TV, work with them to figure out exactly what you need, then go on Amazon and buy it for less.
tl;dr It's not immoral to walk into a car dealership and ask for a test drive under no pretense that you plan to buy a car, but it is immoral to spend 3 hrs. with the salesman then at the last minute say that you never even considered buying a car from them. The actual line falls somewhere in between.