By now, we’re used to hearing about how our favorite stores make the transition to ecommerce.  This time, we can get ready to hear about the opposite as rumors about that Amazon.com will be opening a brick-and-mortar retail store in Seattle as a test to see if physical stores could help improve profits.

This isn’t the first time that the rumor has circulated but this time it’s sounding more likely and claims that a designer is already working on the layout. The store would primarily offer Amazon’s e-readers and tablets and other more expensive products, in addition to the books from its new publishing division. Some say that this is an attempt to follow in the footsteps of Apple’s success in its physical stores.

This could be a complicated decision for Amazon because it means that they will have to start worrying about things like the complicated tax implications, the company’s online image, as well as the obvious physical space and new type of logistics.  But we’ll let them ponder that.

This again brings up the question for us as consumers, where do we like shopping best? I, for one, am a sucker for online retail. I’m thrilled to avoid crowds, parking lots and pushy salespeople. On the other hand, I understand the appeal. It’s never quite the same as being able to browse and handle the merchandise. For me, that’s particularly true with clothing and books but much less the case for tech.

There are certain stores that I’d much rather go to in person and their being online would mean nothing to me. The same may be true in the other direction. If Amazon.com were in fact to open up a brick-and-mortar store, would you want to check it out? Or would you still prefer to do your Amazon shopping from the comfort of your computer screen?