When the SARS epidemic was at its height, department stores and malls were deserted. Many people thought going out their front door would be gambling with Death, so they stayed at home and began shopping online or via home shopping channels on cable TV. These avid visitors to "virtual department stores" were a major boost to the profits of online sellers.
SARS 疫情延燒期間，各大百貨公司和賣場冷到極點，視出門為畏途的消費者開始在家直接上網、輕點滑鼠或扭開電視的購物頻道，到「虛擬商店」當個血拚族，虛擬通路因此個個大發利市。