Even in times of change, some things stay the same. Consider today's most popular online merchants: Alongside relative newcomers such as Amazon.com are names that your grandparents know from childhood, including JCPenney and Sears. The dubious business models may be gone, but Net shopping is alive and kicking. It's just that it's being driven by a lot of old companies. Is this bad news? Only if you miss that talking sock puppet. The Net stores that have endured are simply better at their game. Dot-coms such as Amazon are still around because they've been able to master the complicated logistics of fulfilling orders. The old-timers have prospered because they learned those skills back in the '50s, with catalogs and phone sales. The result: a generally happier buying experience, with quicker deliveries and fewer mistakes.
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