If you check rents and malls and brick and mortar stores, you understand why more people are buying and selling on line. You drive to the mall, waste time looking for a parking space, hope no one scratches or breaks into your car, try to buy something that is not in stock, but they'll order it for you, pay the price that reflects their sales labor, management, rent, utilities, profit, and sales tax.
Or you can order it on line. Lots of places have free shipping.
The guy on line might be like Uncle Ernie, in his basement, in his underwear, in front of the computer. But his overhead is the internet connection and the bags of Cheetos he consumes.