Mail telephone order

A blast from the past!

Mail telephone order, also known as mail-order or mail-in order, is a method of ordering products or services by sending a written request or form through the mail. This was a common way to place orders before the widespread use of the internet and online shopping.

Here's how it typically worked:

1. A customer would find a product or service they wanted to order by reading a catalog, advertisement, or brochure.
2. They would fill out an order form, which was usually included with the catalog or advertisement, with their name, address, and other relevant information.
3. The customer would mail the completed order form to the company along with payment, which could be in the form of a check, money order, or credit card information.
4. The company would receive the order and process it, usually by sending the product or service to the customer via mail or courier.

Mail telephone order was popular in the mid-20th century, particularly for products like clothing, books, and household goods. Many companies, such as Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Montgomery Ward, built their businesses around mail-order sales.

However, with the advent of the internet and online shopping, mail telephone order has largely become a relic of the past. Today, most companies prefer to handle orders online or over the phone, and many have abandoned their mail-order operations altogether.