mail-order business
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mail-order business
A form of commerce in which goods are delivered to the customer by post or parcel service after being ordered. Orders are typically placed through catalogs, the internet, or by telephone.
Der Online-Versandhandel hat in den letzten Jahren stark zugenommen.
Online mail-order business has grown significantly in recent years.
This word is made up of 'der Versand' (shipping/sending goods) and 'der Handel' (trade/commerce). So it literally describes trade that works through the shipping of products.
Früher bestellte man im Versandhandel per Katalog, heute meist online.
In the past, people ordered from mail-order businesses by catalog; today they mostly order online.
The term is often combined with the internet, since this is the modern form of mail-order business. A very common collocation is therefore 'der Online-Versandhandel' (online mail-order business).
Der Online-Versandhandel wächst jedes Jahr weiter.
Online mail-order business continues to grow every year.
When describing how you buy something, you use the preposition 'im' or 'über den'. You buy something 'im Versandhandel' (through mail order) or order it 'über den Versandhandel' (through the mail-order business).
Viele Kunden bestellen ihre Kleidung lieber über den Versandhandel.
Many customers prefer to order their clothing through mail-order businesses.
online retail
Versandhandel and Onlinehandel can both refer to ordering goods for delivery to customers. Versandhandel emphasizes selling without a physical store and shipping the goods, while Onlinehandel highlights ordering over the internet. Versandhandel is suitable for an order placed by telephone, while Onlinehandel is suitable for an order placed on a website.
Der Versandhandel nahm meine telefonische Bestellung an und schickte die Schuhe per Paketdienst.
The mail-order company took my order by telephone and sent the shoes by parcel service.
Im Onlinehandel bestellte ich die gleichen Schuhe über die Website des Geschäfts.
I ordered the same shoes online through the store's website.
