Digging in the basement I found this paper from 1995. This is how the process was (in pre-internet days). Someone got catalogue from abroad via snail mail. Then it took time when you had a chance to see it finally. Then you noticed cool items there. Then you waited for the pay day. Then you sent cash in registered letter (hoping they still got your desired items in stock). So the whole process from printing the catalogue by record label to send out your order was easily 2 months. Nowadays some stuff sells out in pre-order withing couple of days or hours.