mail-order business
Loading your saved state.
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 shop
'der Onlineshop' and 'der Versandhandel' both have to do with shopping without visiting a regular store. 'Onlineshop' means the store or website on the internet where you place an order. 'Versandhandel' refers more to the form of commerce: goods are ordered and then delivered by post or parcel service. The order may be online, but it can also be placed by catalog or telephone. The words can be confused because many online shops operate as mail-order businesses. If you mean the website, 'Onlineshop' fits better; if you mean the type of selling with delivery, 'Versandhandel' fits better.
Der Versandhandel hat viele kleine Kataloggeschäfte verändert.
Mail-order business has changed many small catalog-based shops.
Sarah bestellt ihre neuen Laufschuhe in einem Onlineshop.
Sarah orders her new running shoes from an online shop.