Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 172, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1914 — GETTING OUR MONEY’S WORTH [ARTICLE]

GETTING OUR MONEY’S WORTH

HN EVERY transaction we expect to get our money’s worth. When we bay .merchandise from onr local storekeepers we examine everything with the utmost care, we test for strength and look for quality. We discuss with the merchant the desirability and Value of everything and after we shall have decided that we will effect a purchase we are convinced that we have obtained full value and that we can depend on our purchase am being what we want. Then, again, if for any reason we have reason to be dissatisfied with that which we have bought we can talk it over with our merchant and any discrepancy will be readily adjusted. This is the principle of all good business. The buyer meets the seller face to face and examinee the goode before closing the deal. The teller is responsible for his representations and the feuyer can always find him and adjust any differences which may occur. On the other hand there is the mail order method. We receive a’ book from the mail order house. Illustrated with expensive pictures of various articles. The descriptions of these articles are always optimistic and gloriously pleasing. Onr minds afe lffipressed by the charming wording of the descriptions apd the selection of adjectives creates In our minds a desire to possess these wonderful things. sorts of promises are made In the book, or catalog. We will be accorded the greatest possible consideration, we will be allowed all kinds of privileges; we can return the goods at the expense of the house if not satisfactory; shipments will be made with promptness and despatch; any damages In shipping will be adjusted at once; “Our Mr. go-ond-So wIH give your orders his personal attention,” etc. We are flattered and cajoled by the clever wording of the catalogue and the statements made In the “fake” personal letters sent to follow up the catalogue. We are touched In that tiny spot of vanity which, though small, seems to be everywhere and to respond to the slightest touch. We are allured by the prospect of obtaining such magnificent and desirable articles at such remarkably low (T) prices and we are flattered by the statement that Mr. So-and-So will glva our order personal attention. We begin to believe ourselves to be “some punkins” and we are inclined to swell up and look askance at our lew fortunate townsmen who have not been singled out for suet} distinction as a letter, signed in person by Mr. So-and-So. ' • . Therefore, we decide that we will send an order for something We forget that we can go into the store of our own local So-and-So, whom we know and to whom we are perhaps responsible for past favors. But it is easy to forget all this in the happiness and exultation of having been singled ont by the great mall order “boss” as a desirable person with whom to do businew. SO WE SENT> AN ORDER, CASH WITH IT, OF COURSE. Then we wait for the article to, come. More waiting. Then we write to the mail order "boss." " We get a succession of form letters in reply, but no merchandise. We waste a lot of time and patience and postage stamps and stationery. Finally the shipment arrives. , We are astounded. This hardly looks like the article we expected. So we write again. Then follows more correspondence. We are told to examine the article again thoroughly and compare the description with It We do so. - Yes the technical description is the same. BUT THE CLEVER STYLE IN WHICH IT IS WRITTEN HAS DELIBERATELY MISLED US. The illustration has lied to us deliberately, because the picture was toned up and exaggerated for the sole purpose of misleading ns. We are stung. We could have gotten a far better value from our local storekeeper for the money. The lying letters we received from Mr. So-and-So wore merely printed form letters and wens probably never seen by the alleged signer, who Is In Europe spending the dollars which we, and other similar dupes, have sent him. Bah! Why will be persist in such foolishness? Onr common sense should tell ns better. But no. probably we will do the same thing over •gain when we get the same sort of flattering and lying dope from another vwnCT nrder honse thot has bought* llst of. n*mes. cont»ißlng PUrv,_ frgfl)utbt_ boose which stung ns. YES THEY WILL PASS OUR NAMES ALONG, ONE TO THE OTHER. WE HAVE PLACED OURSELVES ON RECORD AS BEING “EASY MARKS.* In the meantime wo may go to our local dealer and buy the article we really need. He win guarantee it and, perhaps, give us credit for it if we US SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESS MEN. THEY ARB *NOUR TRADE AND WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THEM.