ive found it interesting that you can now have a "walmart store"
Basically, you list your items/price on ebay...someone buys and you ship item. Walmart isn't stocking the items.
You can get traxxas and redcat, and maybe a few other hobby grade brands threw walmart.com....but it is really a dealer who is selling/shipping the item to you.
I know a lot of brick/mortar hobby shops are also selling online....either a .com store or threw ebay.
I am lucky to have a LHS only 25 minutes away....a few years back the closest one was about an hour to 1.5 hours away.
But sometimes LHS is just too expensive. I get that it is hard for them to compete on some items, due to extra overhead costs (building, card machine, counter worker, ect) I think my LHS has only been able to stay in the green because they built an indoor and outdoor race tracks. Without them, I don't think they would still be open. Not only do race fees generate income, but when you break a part on race night...you don't care what it costs to get your truck back on the track!