Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of supporting brick-and-mortar stores, like The Last Bookstore, by making purchases to ensure their survival and sustain the cultural experiences they offer.

Abstract

The author of the article reflects on their decision to buy a coffee table book from The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, despite not needing it and the possibility of finding it cheaper online. The purchase is framed as a way to support the physical existence of stores that provide cultural value beyond mere commercial transactions. The author acknowledges the convenience and cost-effectiveness of online shopping but argues that physical stores offer unique experiences and serendipitous discoveries that cannot be replicated by algorithms. The article suggests that the survival of these stores depends on the patronage of those who value the culture and experiences they provide, and it encourages readers to consider the broader impact of their purchasing decisions.

Opinions

The author believes that purchasing from physical stores is not just a transaction but an investment in the cultural experiences they offer.
There is a sense of nostalgia and loss for the tactile experience of browsing in record stores, which is not replicable through digital platforms like Spotify.
The author views the act of buying from stores like The Last Bookstore as a form of underpayment for the privilege of preserving a cultural haven, rather than overpayment for an unnecessary item.
The article suggests that while online retailers may offer convenience and lower prices, they lack the ability to create the unique, in-person experiences that physical stores provide.
The author implies that consumers have a responsibility to support physical stores if they wish to continue having access to the culture and community these spaces foster.

If We Don’t Buy From Stores We Want To Exist, They No Longer Will

Read this before your next trip to a book store.

I didn’t need a coffee table book.

But there I was in The Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles about to buy one — and I couldn’t figure out why.

I love music and photography, so of course I thought Dust & Grooves: Adventures in Record Collecting was cool. But why the hell was I about to actually purchase it?

I had no need for this book and even if I did, I’m sure I could find it cheaper on Amazon.

But then, just as I was about to put it down and go back to browsing, I had an epiphany.

How is this amazing store going to survive if people don’t actually buy the things they like here?

So I bought the book and felt great about it.

I realized I wasn’t overpaying for an unnecessary purchase — I was underpaying for a privilege.

My purchase was a statement — even if only to myself — that stores like this matter and must be supported by those who appreciate them.

Because if we don’t buy from the stores we want to exist, they no longer will.

I learned this lesson the hard way because my first love is music.

As great as Spotify is, I miss having the opportunity to spend hours in record stores browsing, listening and shopping for music. I miss the EXPERIENCE.

I’ve seen what happens when we don’t support stores we love — it doesn’t end well.

It’s a shame because stores that sell art are about more than just the commercialization of that art. They’re about the culture.

There will always be places to buy books and music, but those places won’t always come with a culture.

Physical stores create opportunities for unique experiences and serendipitous discoveries that no algorithm can crack.

I want continued access to those opportunities.

That’s why I overpaid for a book I didn’t need in a bookstore I’d never been to before.

Because I’d like to be able to do it again in the future.

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