jsinger - 6:27 pm on Nov 16, 2005 (gmt 0)

By offering free shipping we can abide by the MAP guidelines of manufacturers

That's another VERY important point. Our suppliers are beginning to crack down on web deep-discounting. Several have just instituted minimum web prices (mostly because old line brick/mortar and paper catalogers are fuming about the web)

Result? Back door gimmicks such as free shipping are growing. I think that alone explains a lot of it in some businesses.