Could it be that to move with the times and broaden their prospective customer base shops are gradually moving to the internet as the means of supplementing a business? I deal with both forms of sales and know some shopowners eho sell online and probably shift more that way than through the door. I also know shops that don't have a website but are happy to sell by mail order too. There doesn't tend to be much difference in my experience between a shop selling at a good discount and an online seller doing the same. On the other hand if a shop wishes to sell at top whack retail price (or above in rare instances) then its their funeral. They may get customers who know no better and are starting out in the hobby but believe me price soon takes over from convenience.