"But to the extent that the company intends to use direct marketing......."
I would hardly call that a claim. How's this?: If the company doesn't intend to use direct marketing as a primary source of revenue, then they shouldn't worry too much about how much they spend on shipping charges or how much they recover. Unless, of course, those net costs materially impair profitability and hence, shareholder value.
I don't have any idea what, if any, emphasis the company intends to place on direct marketing. Orders are being solicited on the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/8000inc/319800828743 So, from that perspective, the mail order business is a step ahead of the retail operation.
But that wasn't the point either. Maybe you should read it again.