by A. H. Manjikian

Created on: March 04, 2009

No, not technically.

There are still catalogs being sent out and people worried about using their credit card on-line, so ordering by phone and mail is still happening. However, for the most part, the Internet has redefined traditional mail order. Now, when one receives a catalog, you can look through it, admire the pictures, and then go on-line to the website that is provided, even though there is an order form just waiting to be filled out.

Going on-line allows the buyer to look at different sources and prices for the product. They may find a better price either on the catalog's website, by doing some research through the search engines, or visiting the original manufacturer's site. These price differences might be outright, part of a volume discount, or discounted shipping.

Then there is the speed of ordering. In both the on and off line case, the buyer has to fill out an order form. It is what happens once that order form is filled out where there is a noticeable difference. In the case of the traditional mail order, the person then has to mail the order form, wait for the company to receive their order without knowing if they received it, wait again for the product to be shipped, and then receive the product at some estimated date. In the case of on-line shopping, the minute the buyer confirms their order, things start popping. Usually, the buyer receives an email confirmation that their order was received and then another email when the order is shipped. The second one contains tracking information that the buyer can use to see where their package is at at any given time. This way, they can plan for the arrival of the package, if they are expecting it, or know when to expect a "thank you" call or note should it be on its way as a gift to someone.

Finally, there is the convenience. Not all products are available through traditional mail ordering and not everyone has immediate access to the brick and mortar store that has the product that they want. The store might be a different city, county, state, or even country or operate on hours that make it inconvenient for the person to go in and buy the product. With the Internet, there are no time and distance restrictions. If the product is available on-line, then it is just a matter of ordering it, even if that order comes in at midnight from half a world away.

Mail order has definitely been changed and enhanced by the Internet, but not replaced by it. In a way, the Internet can never replace mail order. At least, not until a technology is invented that takes the mail part out of mail order.

Learn more about this author, A. H. Manjikian.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.