It's a UK thing. Local shopping is pretty much extinct here (not just bikes, anything). If you want stuff, you get it online, full stop. Even, more increasingly, food.

So local hobby shops that still exist try to carve some weird niche catering for old-fashioned people who value a good banter and "service" over inventory, low price, or competent mechanics.

I can pump my own tyres, thank you, but I find it very sad that there's like 2-3 places in the whole country where you can get your suspension serviced. You need to book a couple of weeks ahead, post it, and total price is like 2/3 of new item.

Agreed, it feels like this was in response to something that I never read.