if you go to a local store and not a big chain you are more likely to be giving a discount or some sort of deal, also if you become a regular then they may even give you lower prices on everything when you visit. I work in a small camera shop and there are quite a few customers we do this for.
Also i believe photographers, amatuer or professional, should help small buisnesses like these. If they all go bust, then the next generation of photographers will have to try and learn everything online. There is a lot of crap online