If you shop at a store, then you probably should purchase the item there, also.
The shop is paying salespeople an hourly wage, paying for electricity, taxes, etc etc etc. With so many people using stores to inspect products, and then purchasing at
ebay or a cheaper retailer, we will have few and far between shops in our towns.
With a population of 140,000+, we've noticed that we have a couple of photography stores here now; most have gone under because of the big box stores. The same with book stores.... and we've had three quilt stores close their doors!
These local shops hire local people, and pay taxes that go into city coffers.
So please, shop the local places in town and support your community.