AHS pricing and and shipping should drive good cash flow. Walmart does not make a ton on each order, but they have cash flow and volume ad can have a 2-3% net margin because of it. I have not ordered from AHS in several years, but plan to now. I se what they add to the forum and the responsiveness to questions. I wish my brother was still in Austin so i could stop by.
When I moved to IN, I noticed that the shops were not as stocked as they were in MI. I had many shops I could go to to get supplies. Here I have my LHBS or I can go to Indy or Fort Wayne. It is just as easy for me to order from AHS. In fact, I plan to tell my LHBS about them so they can see what they have to offer.