By means of checks during picking and before the packing of customer parcels and by using padding material, a high standard of delivery quality is ensured. Articles which are delivered by forwarders receive special repackaging to protect them from damage [delivery features]. In this case, delivery to the customer is ensured by a pre-announcement via telephone (advising). The availability of the articles [readiness to deliver] is maximized by issuing test catalogs prior to the publication of a new catalog, timely observation of customers’ ordering behavior during a particular catalog season, and evaluating the ordering behavior of previous catalog seasons.