The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-05-12
ABOUT "DRUMMERS. ;

The propriety OF dispensing with
"drummers," or commercial agents, has
been the subject of serious considera-
ton in Pittsburg, and we observe is be-
ing agitated elsewhere. 1t is stated
that many houses in Philadelphia, as
well as in other large cities, commenced
the year by reducing expenses and dis
pensing with travelling agents. Do
"drummers" pay? is the question to be
determined.
One of our exchanges, in referring to
this subject, INDUCES in the following
remarks:
While it must be admitted that a
large house, having business relations
in different sections of the country,
requires agents 10 attend to the settle
ment of accounts and other matters, in
volving large amounts of money, the
sending broadcast over the States a
flood of "drummers," inundatiDg, as it
were, the interior merchants with q
multiplicity of ''samples," is regarded
as nuisance that calls for an abate-
ment. A great army of these agents
have been regularly sent out, every
house. in almost every city having one
or more representatives, who visit eV-
cry town, village and hamlet in the
country.
The New York Grocer gives the fol
lowing items of information in regard
to the drumming" business.
"There are said to be 25,O00 drummers
sent out of this city alone. These aver
age at least $l,500 each in salary and
commission, or $36, O00, 600 paid to the
whole number in salaries. If to this
we add their travelling expenses, 81 per
day, and estimating that they are upon
the road $50 days during the year, we
have an item of $l5,000,0O0 more, and
an aggregate of Sc, O00, 600, which is
added to the price of the goods sold.
AS there are about 100000 retail stores
in the country which the goods eventu-
ally reach, we find every dealer taxed
| $l75 per year to sustain this army of
"drummers' from New York city alone.
We would not be understood to say
| that in all instances and under all cir
cumstances the employment of traYel-
ing salesman should be dispensed with,
| for under certain circumstances it is an
absolute necessity. In introducing a
new article to the attention of the trade,
or new and improved package or man
ner of putting up goods, in specialities
generally, or Whatever cannot be de-
scribed intelligibly or understood clear
/ ly without seeing the article, then such
q course becomes indispensable, and an
advantage to both buyer and seller.
But even then, after such an article or
staple or manufacture has become uni
versally known, the drummer can be
dispensed with to the advantage OF
both parties
/ Some other remarks of the Grocer, in
connection with the same business, are
worth quotation:
i Leading firms in every line of bus
mess, who have hitherto refused TO make
known their business in any other way
except through the expense of main
tanning q dozen or more 'drummers
securing the country, have dispensee
with their services and returned TO |
system of judicious advertising, which
cannot fail to be highly remuneratiYe
Those who have tried the two systems
are loud ia their praises OF the latte
method. A firm laboring under the ne
cessary heavy expenses of maintaining
. statesmen, at 6 cost of So, 600 to $1,000
per annum, cannot afford TO sell it
. goods at az low figure as firm who's
|, expenses are reduced by the sam
amount, Indeed, experience prove
that competition by the latter agains
the former is almost impossible. Will
. very small portion of the amour
hitherto expended on agents (who, Q
: the best, could visit but small portion
: of the trade) would enable the firm 3
place their business and prices week.
before every merchant in the country
> and bring large returns. Orders wonl
be found to in noWise abate, and at tn
{ end of the year fewer bad debts woul
q be found on the books of our wholesal
: merchants. Country merchants them
selves can compel this change, for thei
own good, by refusing to give their OF
iers to these peripatetic salesman, an
by sending their orders to headquarteI
8 and insisting upon the prices whic
u houses not under this unnecessary e.
peRse are willing to give @s le