I do a lot of shopping online, recently bought a new mobile phone online and it was a bit cheaper, but not massively, It's great for CDs and DVDs etc. I was discussing the effect it might have on the high street in coming years with the wife on the drive to work this morning. I suggested due to the ease of purchasing etc, and relative savings it could kill off the high street, like the out of town superstore effect.
Her response was that for items like clothes etc, the touchy feely effect will save high street shops, ie she prefers to try her clothes on first, to make sure things fit first. And many people are social animals, who like to get out of the house and the shops are a focus. They said videos would kill off cinemas, but cinemas evolved.
It will be interesting to see how internet shopping effects the high street, and how the high street will fight back.