Alison, wow, that's a great example of a strategy that might help  this kind of stores to survive. And of course if a store is not close to the house- it is easier to buy there, I am afraid, that a trip price covers the difference in a better on-line price

It's actually a classical philosophical dilemma.  Nobody wants X to happen (X being, for example, bookstores vanishing), but nobody believes their own personal actions will cause X.  Little incentive, then, for people to change their behavior, although of course X will be caused by the collective actions of all these people.

It's a real problem, Mashka.  I'm guilty too.  Losing the brick and mortar stores will be a real blow, but we're not prepared to pay the supplement to keep them open.

One local retail department store - Beall's - in Florida offers free gift wrap year-round. That's one way they compete with online retailers. Their prices are comparable and they carry a lot of good brands. But that additional service is something they're known for. I've gone there, planning to use the service, found the gift-wrap line too long (at Christmas; for the rest of the year, you're in and out), and still bought an item there simply because I've already traveled to the store. So that's one way a retailer separates itself from both other bricks n' mortar stores and etailers. 

What other ways are retailers in your area differentiating themselves today? 

people visiting a store, inspecting the item of interest, comparing online prices using their mobile device, then placing the order with an online store

Kim, I have done it by myself many times. And I know it's not very "fair" towards  retailors. So may be it's time to pay a small feel, entering the stores:)))? What would  people do, if they  have to do that. Or may be  retailers should make some contracts with on-line stores, so a certain items that are offered  in online shops could be found only in  certain offline stores- so  on line stores pay some money  for off line stores.

I know it's not a perfect model of co-existence, but I think in years the whole model should be changed

Here's an example of a sign posted in a bookstore in my neighborhood:

I think one of the reasons, why  people still go to "real stores"- is because they like to "feel" an item, to hold in their hands, to weight it.

You're right, Mashka, but the phenomenon we're seeing here -- which is driving small retailers to despair -- is people visiting a store, inspecting the item of interest, comparing online prices using their mobile device, then placing the order with an online store.

Some small retailers -- bookstores, for example -- are serving as unpaid brick and mortar showrooms for Amazon (and the rest), and it's crippling them.

is when someone comes in, gets a lot of help with something to determine what they need -- and *then* they leave to go buy it online because it's cheaper. What would be nice is some sort of system -- similar to the way that some people have Amazon links on their websites so they get a cut if a site visitor goes to Amazon to buy something -- where the brick and mortar store could get a cut of that sale. I have a friend who works at a high-end guitar store and this is a big problem for them.

Online is great if I know what I want. I want *this* book. I want *this* CD. I want *these* shoes. It doesn't work so well if I'm looking for "elastic waisted pants that fit me but aren't sweatpants and don't look cheap but actually look kind of like nice slacks but aren't a zillion dollars." On the other hand, I'm not having much luck with that quest in stores, either.

I don't typically buy clothes online because of the issue of wanting to try it on. I did buy my boyfriend shoes, but I knew what brand he wanted and I knew he isn't picky :) and I knew I had free returns. Even so, I picked the vendor based on, first, low price, but then I had a question so I asked one vendor and then bought from them even though they might not have been the cheapest.

In-person shopping is great for serendipitous items, like sales and secondhand. I get a lot of my clothes secondhand and from garage sales and so on these days. Though I may be ordering some clothes for my daughter online because she wants the name brand stuff and it's cheaper online.

I think one of the reasons, why  people still go to "real stores"- is because they like to "feel" an item, to hold in their hands, to weight it.

So, may be, it's better to have some kind of exhibition rooms, where people can take a look at goods, if they want to , and then just to order it on-line.Yes, it takes more time, however, it's can be something like a shopping therapy as well.