The mail-order purchasing process involves these stages:
1. Catalog Selection: Customers choose items from a catalog or website.
2. Order Placement: A request is submitted via a form or online.
3. Payment: Pre-payment or payment on delivery is made using cash, check, or online methods.
4. Order Processing: The vendor prepares the order for shipment.
5. Delivery: Items are sent to the buyer via postal or courier services.
Example: Purchasing books from an online merchant such as Amazon exemplifies this mail-order procedure.