I do not see how brick and mortar retail in this country is holding up. If our shopping patterns are any indication of the trend most stores should be closed now. We buy almost everything but food and fuel online. It is just not worth the hassle to go to a store, spend time walking up and down aisles and still only come home without what you went for because it is not in stock. Instead of using what you wanted you compromise and it is never a good compromise.
Online, if you can wait a little bit, your selection is better, prices can be better even with shipping, you can always find your size and you get what you need instead of compromising.
Local taxes are a problem. We are eventually going to have to pay some local taxes on all online shopping or some kind of other local tax will have to be raised.
Years ago someone did a test to see if you could live isolated simply by using online shopping. It was easy. The forecast was that people would cocoon and live isolated. It is possible but not practical. I don’t think we can have a society where almost everything we use can be delivered. Can you imagine the number of delivery trucks running around?
The future model will be something like Sears or Montgomery Ward used to be. You order online and go to a delivery point to pick up your purchase most of the time. Instead of a mass of brick and mortar stores there could be pickup points all online merchandisers would use for a small fee. Home delivery will be an option though but at a cost. Sears or Montgomery Ward blew it.
I think that's why Amazon and others are looking into delivery by drone for the smaller items. I think that has potential but probably some time away.