Is customer loyalty decreasing in small retail stores?

I’ve been thinking about this, is customer loyalty in small retail stores slowly dying?

Earlier, people didn’t just choose a shop, they stuck with it. The local kirana, the medical store, the bakery, there was a relationship. Even if another store opened nearby, most customers didn’t switch easily.

Now it feels like loyalty is very fragile. If another shop gives ₹5 less, faster delivery, or a small discount, customers move. With quick commerce apps and big chains offering constant deals, small stores are competing not just with nearby shops but with platforms backed by huge funding.

So I’m genuinely curious, has customer loyalty reduced, or were we just seeing it differently before?

From a customer’s point of view, is loyalty still important?
From a shop owner’s point of view, do relationships still matter in driving repeat business?

Is price winning over trust now? Or am I overthinking this? Would love to hear real experiences.