The local game store ecosystem is genuinely fragile and worth thinking about. FLGS shops operate on thin margins, compete against Amazon pricing, and serve a community function that Amazon cannot replicate — demo tables, organized events, game nights, staff recommendations from people who have actually played the games they are selling.

I make a deliberate effort to buy at least half my games at full price from my FLGS. The convenience savings from Amazon rarely justify what I would lose if the store closed. When a new game I want comes out, I buy it in store. When I need an obscure out-of-print game, I search online.

If you have a great local store, show up. Buy things. Participate in their events. Tell your friends about them. The store that taught you to play board games deserves more than a quarterly visit.