The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1875-05-21
CUT THROAT BUSINESS.
How an Atlanta Firm Got Stuck-We
Work for Money and Not for the
Fun of the Thing.

Fun OF the Thlng.
We have right to expect the
patronage of the citizens of Marietta
and vicinity, in preference to foreign
parties, provided we can and will do
work as we'll and as reasonably as
any body else, when it is taken into
consideration we are always seeking
to benefit Marietta, advance her
every interest, both public and pri
vAte, as we'll as the defender against
all attacks from outside enemies and
the advocate Of her rights generally.
But we have no complaints TO
make, but desire to relate a couple
of events in the business world,
showing how some Atlanta printing
establishments are engaged in the
"cut throat business" undertaking
and reducing prices actually be(0'0
cost of work and material, and leav-
ing nothing to meet individual and
current expenses.
We try to deal fairly with all our
customers, but have had it throwed
into our teeth, time and again, "we
can get so and so done in Atlanta
much cheaper than you propose to
do it." Our reply generally to such
a remark is: "You also can buy
goods in Atlanta and New York
much cheaper than you can buy
them in Marietta, but doubtless you
want compensation tor your trouble,
time and labor" There are parties
in Atlanta who desire to get the run
of business and bid unusually low,
trying to draw all the Marietta trade
or cripple us in business by making
us work for nothing, which we do
not propose to do.
A gentleman not long ago wanted
5000 large circulars printed, solid
matter. Our price was $40. lie
said he could get it done in Atlanta
for SIS. Very well, said we. He
left and in a few days returned and
gave us the work because he had to
pay cash in Atlanta and we were
willing to wait some time for our
pay, as we frequently do with our
established business men.
Again a certain party wanted a
pamphlet printed, 81 pages, 200
copies, (the first printing of the
pamphlet after the war costing $75.)
Our price was $50. 1t was called
exorbitant, and we said we would do
it for $50, although it was so low we
couldn't make more than wages
A few days afterwards we were in
formed by one Of the gentlemen that
a certain firm in Atlanta offered to
do the work for t,0enty sir dollars,
while another party offered to do it
for $40. We were astonished but
rather than the work should go from
home, we offered to do the work for
$40, knowing there was not cent
of profit in the work, and print the
book on good paper and in credit
able manner.
The work was given to the TWEEN
ty>six dollar man in Atlanta. When
finished, one of the gentleman re-
ceiyed note from the firm to this
import: "Work ready. How must
we ship7 Bill fifty dollars" This
was somewhat startling, and one of
the gentlemen wrote back that they
had his figures where he agreed to
do the work for S2G, and they would
hold him to his contract or not re-
ceive the work. In justification, the
Atlanta firm sent an itemized account
showing that the pamphlet cost h(r-
ty-tlc0 dollars to print it, but having
got "stuck" at s2G, they forwarded
the work for S26.
Now hear is clear loss of Sc,
while he has nothing left for his la
Dor, his office expenses, or to buy
meat and bread for his family. And
it is such as this we have to compete
with.