Amazon and online companies of the such are crushing American small businesses - it's too late to say "are". They already have. We already are spoiled to all the things posted to date in this thread, even to the point of someone posting, screw small businesses. Heck, I'm not gonna lie, I love my 365 Santa packages from Amazon. Why and when?

Brick and mortor stores are only as good as their inventory amounts, merchandise choices, and prices. Do love price matching though which most do like Lowes, etc. Oh, and don't forget... friendliness.

Extremely simplistic example: One goes to a store to buy a shirt here in T V. Inventory for size M gone. Size XXL 50 to 100 in stock. Hello inventory specialist... what do those inventory numbers that tell you about your shoppers? Result one goes home and orders the shirt on Amazon. A good local small business looks at sales trends and knows what people are looking for and maintains stock.

As for friendliness, a good business does not outwardly judge customers for theft or financial status. Can't tell you how many times snobby store clerks have caused me to buy online. One never knows what's in someone's wallet and the price someone will pay for something they want, need or just plain buy as retail therapy!

Amazon is a necessary evil imo. Wish America would makes things like they used to. The quality was number one back in the day.