Have contemporary consumers integrated mail/phone order into their categorization of goods and retailers?

Abstract

Using data gathered from credit account holders of a national mail/phone order catalog, the present study examines whether contemporary consumers have integrated nonstore alternatives into their categorization of retailers. This research finds that there is a segment that exhibits preference for nonstore buying, that women have more experience shopping than do men, and that such shopping/purchase experience is related to willingness to use mail/phone order catalogs. These results also indicate that respondents do not associate any of the products considered with preference for mail/phone order purchase.