I am under the impression that buying online help keep jobs of local posties and courier companies. If the local bike shop closes, another shop will open, which means new shop provides local jobs - which is more likely will employ more people than the previous occupant (a bike shop).
I have given up on the local bike shop that is only 2 km away from where I work. When I had a problem with my Stages Power meter, the Stages Support told me to grab some battery doors from that local bike shop. Local bike shop wants to charge me $10 for the item they did not buy from Stages and was provided to them as buffer stock for riders like me.
In the past, I regularly visit this shop even if I don't need anything. I always buy something before stepping out of the shop door to make sure I don't waste their time and space. Even if its just a tube that they are selling for $10 or a jersey that I don't really need. And like others have said, rant over