An excerpt from the May 19, 1886, issue of The Jewelers' Weekly (a JCK ancestor) reads: "Among the matters discussed [at the Wisconsin Retail Jewelers' Protective Associa-tion convention] was the issuing of illustrated catalogues by certain jobbers of watches and jewelry. In the course of the discussion the secretary stated that at least nine-tenths of the complaints brought to his notice of jobbers supplying consumers at wholesale rates are against those who issue illustrated catalogues. The convention thereupon resolved that the practice was injurious to legitimate trade, and recommended that the patronage of the retailers be withheld from all jobbers who refuse to recognize the protest of the convention against their use."
Substitute "Internet retailers" for "jobbers" and "online" for "illustrated catalogues." Good retail jewelers survived then, and they'll survive Amazon.com, eBay,