Definition

1. Noun:
   • The purchase of goods to be shipped through the postal system: "mail-order buying" refers to the act of purchasing items from a seller, typically via a catalog, advertisement, or website, with the understanding that the purchased goods will be delivered by postal or courier services.

Usage

• Noun:
  • This term describes a method of commerce and is used as a subject or object in a sentence.
  • It is often discussed in contexts related to retail history, consumer behavior, and e-commerce.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Mail-order buying became extremely popular in rural areas in the early 20th century.
  • The rise of the internet has transformed traditional mail-order buying into online shopping.
  • Her hobby of mail-order buying for collectibles fills her home with unique packages.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used to discuss economic trends or historical retail patterns.
  • The study analyzed the impact of mail-order buying on local brick-and-mortar stores.

Variants and Related Words

• Mail order (noun): The system or business of selling goods by mail.
  • They run a successful mail order business.
• Mail-order (adjective): Used to describe something related to this system.
  • She received a mail-order catalog.
• Mail-order bride (noun): A distinct and specific term referring to a woman whose marriage is arranged via correspondence, often through an agency. (Note: This is a separate, specific compound term).

Synonyms

• Catalog shopping: Buying goods from a printed or digital catalog.
• Distance selling: A broader term for selling to customers who are not physically present in a store.

Related Phrases

• To buy by mail order: The verbal phrase describing the action.
  • My grandparents used to buy their clothes by mail order.

Noun

1. buying goods to be shipped through the mail