Their search tool works wonderfully. They exist only on the Internet. Not all products are as easy to sell on the Internet as books, however, so keep that in mind. Another huge factor is that Amazon was one of the first to compete in their market. The short answer is that it is too early to tell.
Drawbacks are the initial capital and operating costs.
In addition there has to be a purpose that is extraordinary which many businesses simply cannot find. Also, see my discussion later in this article about technology staffing requirements. This is generally the most commonly used model for both individuals and businesses. These sites are most successful when they serve both to generate some revenue and to save some cost for their owners. The most important factor is balance between the cost of building and operating the web site as weighed against the real revenues earned and the real costs saved.