Exactly.
I'm in audio/video production. I buy tons of supply items from Amazon, plus all sorts of little connectors, cables, etc.
There couldn't be a local brick-n-mortar store that could have all of those items on a shelf... and also every other category of item.
The reason Amazon can have nearly every item imaginable is because of the warehouse/shipping model. They have acres of warehouse space all over the country... and items can be shipped to your house in 2 days, 1 day, or the same day.
I know people love to say "
Amazon is killing local businesses"
Well that may be true for certain items.
But I wasn't buying XLR cables from any local store where I live in Mooresville, NC.
There is a Guitar Center in Charlotte about 45 minutes away. But they only have a couple brands. And their prices are ridiculous! Like you said... it's due to the fact that is costs so much for a store to hold all that stock.
So yeah... Amazon might be the devil... but I can stand the heat.