Founders

I completely disagree with this argument. 

"When I buy from my local bookshop, I help a local vendor stay in business."

This is just prolonging their misery. 

If I was the businessman running the local shop, I would not want those "pity buys."

Instead I'd like to;

1. Provide strong value so that people like coming to my physical shop.

2. Ask my customers how I can help them further.

If I don't provide value, I deserve to go out of business.

If not today, in a few years, I'd go out of business anyways.

I'd rather that be today instead of a few years of unhealthy and fake relationship with my business.

If you were the business owner, would you want a "pity buy" or an "honest feedback".

But the opening quote doesn't imply that it's a "pity buy"

Community Builder. I'm wandering and wondering. Interested in decentralized, cool & creative stuff. Worked on a DAO for 5 years and looking for something new.

definitely. If the local store provides value, I'd love that feedback, too!