The need to tack on shipping costs eats up some portion of the savings on what you are buying, depending on the company and on what you are buying. Large, heavy items sometimes end up being more expensive than they would be at a retail store due to shipping and handling. Some companies under-price items to get sales and then try to make it back with exorbitant shipping and handling charges . The Web makes it easier to get pictures of product you are buying, and information about it, but it's just not the same. It's also usually more difficult to contact the company to ask questions.
Service is more difficult when dealing with a distant company, compared to dealing with a local one.
Certainly, there is a kernel of truth to this, but it's a bit of an oversimplification. You'll also notice, as you read the individual sections on online and mail order sources, that the bottom line depends on what source type you are looking at. This page has been served 3222 times. Copyright 1997-2001 Charles M. Kozierok . All Rights Reserved.