internet shopping

[Luke]

and proves that their margins are better than they would like us all to believe.

They are! Retail margins (or sell price mark-up on buy price, if you wish) are huge! Additionally, many of the big chains are stocked by their suppliers on a pay-on-sale (or whatever the phrase is) basis - they don't pay their suppliers for the goods, until they sell them. No credit issues to worry about there then, at least not on the retailers part. The supplier of course is left having to supply product, with no return until it is sold!