Dear hiupkeeptrophy-ga
Thanks for asking. There are several companies that sell their
products offline (usually also with online store).
Land's End is a renown fashion retailer <http://www.landsend.com/> you
can order their Catalogue online here
<http://www.landsend.com/pg.cgi?page=SERVCATA0795&mode=GRAPHIC&refer=http@3A@2F@2Fwww@2Elandsend@2Ecom@2Fcd@2Ffrontdoor@2F0@2C@2C@2C00@2Ben@2DUSS@5F01DBC@2Ehtml&sid=4359081161479113050>
or in a free-toll phone (in the US) : 1-800-356-4444.
Spiegel sale all kind of products, from fashion to electronics. Their
catalogue costs money ($5). You can order it at
<http://www.spiegel.com/customer/catalogrequest.asp> or at phone
1.800.SPIEGEL and ask for offer P6716*.
Victoria Secret is a known lingerie store. You can order their
Catalogue at <http://www.victoriassecret.com/html/custsrvc/request/>
(no phone is mentioned, but their phone at costumer service is
1.800.888.1500).
Nordstorm also sell mainly apparel and related products. Their
catalogue request form is at
<http://store.nordstrom.com/Catalog/requestCatalog.asp?origin=hp-cqo>
The phone for general contact is 1-888-282-6060
Bloomingdale's <http://www.bloomingdales.com/catalog/mbm.ognc>
catalogue requests are dealt with in this phone 1-800-472-0788
If you're in the UK, Catalink might also help you
<http://www.catalink.net/> with hundreds of catalogues. Another
directory with dozens of sites is "Born to Love"
<http://www.borntolove.com/catalogues.html>. However, they ask for an
email address, even if it is a mail order catalogue.
Now for the more important part - you and the Internet are no friends,
so you say. Here are some useful tips on how to search effectively for
mail order catalogues.
Google.com enables you to search for a term - not only one word, as it
appears in a document, if you put " before and after the search term.
Then, you can search for "mail order catalogue" and get only sites
where this term is "mail order catalogue" (and not for example the
story on how "Kathy went to mail and afterwards made an order for
Chinese food while working on her catalogue").
My search for "mail order catalogue" is here:
://www.google.com/search?q=%22mail+order+catalogue%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Other useful search terms could be:
"catalogue request" (since everyone who sales something with a
catalogue has a catalogue request form). You can add to this term
things like "Christmas" (for Christmas shopping), "apparel", etc.
"print catalogues" OR "print catalogue" are also a useful search term
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22print+catalogue%22>
and <://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22print+catalogue%22+OR+%22print+catalogues%22>.
For example, see "print catalogues" clothing search
<://www.google.com/search?q=%22print+catalogues%22+clothing&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8>
(you may notice that Google offers an alternative, American, search
term. You can use it to search for American catalogues). (the OR - in
CAPS - can be used to get a search on both terms at the same time).
Another good way to find more sites - after you found one that suits
you - is to look for "related sites" in Google. Catalink's similar
sites, for example, are also sites that deal with catalogues or with
UK sales: <://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&num=10&q=related:www.catalink.net/>,
I just hope that's not what you're going to order
<http://www.mailorderbrides.com/> :-)
I think this answers your question. However, if you need any
clarifications, don't hesitate. There's a clarification option in the
Google Answers interface. I'd be pleased to answer any clarification
on my answer before you rate the answer. Good Luck! |
Request for Answer Clarification by
hiupkeeptrophy-ga
on
14 Sep 2002 02:34 PDT
Thank you politicalguru, for not only answering my query quicky, but
so indepth. I had no idea about the useful tips. Thank you from the
bottom of this computer illiterate heart. I wanted to say that
yesterday, but spent hours not being able to log in. I finally got an
e-mail from google I had to set my computer to allow all cookies. I
was a bit miffed by this. I didn't understand how they had let me log
into the program in the first place enough to pay them, ask my
question ect. But were now telling me I could not clarify, rate or
interface with you unless I removed my security system from my
computer. I thought that was a bit sneaky and underhanded. I found a
way to do it without letting anyone else put cookies on my computer.
I know it's probably in the rules and disclaimers and my own fault.
But you did such a great job for me (and only for a puny $5.00) that I
had to thank you. Also if you don't mind... and if what I am about to
ask is part of the "clarification option I did want to ask you some
things to "clarify" some of your answer in my mind... You state in
the end of your tenth paragraph that"(you may notice that google
offers analternative, American, search term. You can use it to search
for American catalogues). (the OR - in CAPS - can be used to get a
search on both terms at the same time)."...I looked and re-read and
compared it to your sites until my puzzler was tired and I could not
figure out what you meant! Did you mean if you type in " , America,
" as part of your search that that is an alternative search term in
itself and it will search for what your looking for in America?(of
which you are correct, I am from). And if that is so What the heck
is the "(the OR - in CAPS - that can be used to get a search on both
terms at the same time? Could you give me an"example for idiots"
about how one would utilize the google alternative for an American
search? And also could you give me an "idots example", about exactly
how I would type out and utilize the " OR - in CAPS - to search for
both of any terms at the same times? I know I sound like a true idiot
but believe me...on this I truly need clarification. Remember when
you answer I truly am a computer idiot...that is why I came to you in
the first place. (and glad I did!)
If I am still allowed to ask for yet more clarification...Are you
saying in the advanced search area where they ask for related sites
and links what you are saying is...after I do my initial search and
find the sites I like I then the these sites ( or links I don't know
the difference between a site or link) I then go back to the advanced
search page, go to the "related sites" line and type in the address
for the site i found that I liked the best. And somehow their search
engine will try to find me other sites simular to the site I just
typed in wheter it's .com, .net, .org ect? What about ""related links
how would I make that work for me?
Lokk I know these truly are clarification questions but I know
you have more than already earned your money and helped me. I was so
pleased it was you that got me. Your the only reason I enabled my
computer to accept the cookies, so I could tell you how above and
beyond the call of duty you went, and in such a timely manner and how
I appreciated that. I hope you will "clarify" my answers if you are
allowed to. You know so much and make it look so easy. I wish I
could talk to you on a bulliten bourd or something, that is how
friendly I feel towad you for having gone so above and beyond the call
of duty in answering my question. Maybe with your information the
computer won't be suchan enamy. And mabe if you are willing and
allowed to clarify my question (or would that be clarify your answers)
the computer might even turn (just a little into my friend)you do a
heck of a selling job for the computer. Your knowledge is vast, you
made me feel at ease. Thank you. I hope I can request you if I ever
have another question. If I don't...Keep an eye out for
Hiupkeeptrophy's questions. I hope to hear your "clarifications." If
not ...Thank you very much for your help. I'll do some wonderful
catalogue christmas shopping fom home this year thabks to you. You
have a good one. And give yourself a pat on the back for turning one
more computer idiot mabe not totally from "the dark side" but atleast
I've got my face looking toward the sun. By the way, if your
wondering why a guy (due to the name of the web address) is lokking to
do so much shopping and so stupid with computers and you must think I
am just one big freek of nature! I must tell you I am a woman, and an
entertainer at that (you know A personality)so now you can understand
better where the questions are coming from and why! Thanks again.
Thank you for those clarifications in advance!
|
Clarification of Answer by
politicalguru-ga
on
14 Sep 2002 05:53 PDT
Dear hiupkeeptrophy,
First of all, thank you for your kind words. I hope you know, that
"cookies" are what makes the Google program able to identify who are
you. These are like little finger prints, with which they can tell
that a connection to their site from a certain computer was done with
a particular name. That is not always good (for example, it can be
used to collect information on my purchase or surfing habbits), but in
this particular Google case, I guess (although I can't guarentee 100%)
that it is harmless.
Now for the other questions.
CAPS means "Big case letters" such as THIS. What I meant is, that if
you just write [oranges or melons] Google would write "The word "or"
was ignored in your query -- for search results including one term or
another, use capitalized "OR" between words" (see
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=oranges+or+melons&btnG=Google+Search>);
if you write [oranges OR melons] (with a big OR), you'd get pages that
contain either words (see
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=oranges+OR+melons&spell=1>).
As for searching between commas "" - this allows you to seach for a
specific term or specific wording. when you search for "oranges or
melons" yu'd get pages that contain this specific wording, if such
pages exist (see <://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22oranges+or+melons%22>).
Google also offers alternative spelling in cases where you might have
had a typing mistake. That could be differences between British and
American english (catalogues and catalogs) and that could be spelling
mistakes (mellons instead of melons). Google then asks, (as it does in
this case <://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=mellons>)
"Did you mean:melons" and offers an alternate spelling option. You can
click on this spelling option (or open it in another window using your
mouse rigth click and clicking on "open in a new window") and get the
search results of an alternate spelling method.
Related pages can be reached from several different places:
- You get Google results (let's say, the latest at
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22oranges+or+melons%22>
and you click on "similar pages" in pages that have "caught your eye".
- You can seach for a certain URL ("answers.google.com") and get these
results:
Show Google's cache of answers.google.com (that is how the page was
last "recorded" by Google).
Find web pages that are similar to answers.google.com (that are
similar sites)
Find web pages that link to answers.google.com (that are sites that
link to this site)
Find web pages that contain the term "answers.google.com" (cache means
where it caught it in a page, or on which pages the term
answer.google.com is written).
(source: <://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=answers.google.com>)
- Through the advanced search option: you use the option
"Page-Specific Search" at the bottom of
://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=answers.google.com&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
and type in the site's address (URL).
Lots of information on how to search more effectively is in Google
Help Central <://www.google.com/help/index.html>
And a very early Merry Christmas shopping :-)
|
Clarification of Answer by
politicalguru-ga
on
14 Sep 2002 06:15 PDT
Dear hiupkeeptrophy-ga,
Other two small things. The first is, that not everybody has to like
computers. As a matter of fact, I know many highly intelligent
individuals (for example, university professors) who hate computers.
The other, is that if you feel you want to know more about computer,
there might be courses (or private tutors) in your area - it's worth
checking.
|
hiupkeeptrophy-ga
rated this answer:
politicalguru-ga, not only answered my question in a timely...very
timely, manner, he gave me plenty of options. He made me links after
explaining what my options might be so I did not have to redo the work
he had already done in his research. Because I explained I was using
the service because I was a computer illiterate, he took the time to
walk me through the ways he found the ways he got the links so I would
be more familiar with google's system. Since I had only offered $5.00
I can't help but feel this is a man that takes his job seriosly and is
not only in it for the money. He was more than willing to clarify any
ansers he had given again even though I was only paying $5.00 and he
had already supplied more than $5.00 worth of information (in my mind
anyway) He never condecended to me and always tried explaining things
in pretty easy terms. If I could request this person again I would (I
know I can't)But if I could request this person again, I believe I
would turn to your service more often and bid more money because I
would know which researcher I was getting and I would want to
compensate him. (you know almost like a tip because he does such great
work). I hope when you get this part of google up and running to it's
full potential, perhaps customers will have an option of requesting a
researcher (if they are not blocked out due to the fact they are
already working on another project) the top researchers would get you
more work and I bet they would consistantly make you money from loyal
cusomers like myself. (Yes I only paid $5.00 today but if I knew I was
getting politicalguru-ga again for sure, I would offer more money
because I would wan't him compensated for going out of his way for
doing such a good job for me. Isn't that why people are so loyal to
other people in the service industry that they use and tip handsomly?
And isn't that what Google wants to do here...build up this service
with a good client base that keeps coming back and paying for the
service? With people like politicalguru-ga they would keep coming
back...and they'de be willing to pay because someone like him earns
his cut of the money...and gives google a good name. The men in my
family set the security on my computer. We don't allow cookies. I
had to allow cookies for google just so I could thank
politicalguru---I felt he helped me so quickly and so much (yes I know
me questions was only about dumb catalogues but that isn't the point)
that I had to thank him and tell him so. Also I did wish to clarify
some points with him as he offered to do even though he knew that
would be a chore since I'm a computer idiot. If one of your goals is
to get your cookies (which I don't understand) on peoples computers,
than again having a concientous researcher like politicalguru-ga on
staff is perfect because people like myself who "no-way" allow
cookies, would allow them just so they could thank personally and
clarify with a researcher like politicalguru-ga. By the way... I'm
not a person who sits around all day typing into computers. I'm an
upwardly mobile, college educated,nationally medically certified,
husband & wife team with four kids living in the suburbs, with the cat
and dog, church, girl scouts, boy scouts every day piece of
Americanna, you may want an opinion from (you may not also!)Except for
the fact that I'm a very rare entertainer.(No I don't take my cloths
off, I just can't say what I do in a public forum or everyone will
know who I am) I'm your classic "Leave it to Beaver" scenario. And
when you do surveys and get opinions don't you want those opinions
from all walks of life? Including the "Leave it to Beavers" of the
world? I know I talk too much. I do that when I feel strongly about
someone (politicalguru-ga) or something (how to make your great
service even better). It's a flaw my Italian grandmother spent her
whole life trying to break me of...she never succeded! Sorry. Thank
you for the service. It would be nicer without the need for a full
cookie breach. But it truly is a nice option to have. I hope you
keep it going and continue improving it by listeining to the
suggestions of your customers. Thank you politicalguru-ga they may
just be catalogues to everyone else ...but there Santa's helpers to my
family.
Hiupkeeptrophy |
