The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-03-16

| "WHY PEOPLE WILL PERSIST Il
| PURCHASING SEWING MACHINES of tn
regular agents of the several companies
with a certainty of paying twice as mucl
for them rs they would pay elsewhere
looming up before them, is problem
which surpasses the power of human ma
ture to comprehend. Here they have OF
the one hand the regular agents, confident
that if you purchase machine of the maxi
of the company they represent, that you
| must obtain it from them-they keep to thu
same schedule of prices that were paid a
| the time of the introduction of Sewing
| Machines into the country and under nc
| circumstances are willing to depart from
| them; on the other hand take an agency
where you can go and purchase every style
| and make in the one place. Their prices
are l0aoer, for the very comprehensive rea'
son that they know that they haze to com.
pete with the popular idea that Regular
Agency is the best place to go to get q
machine, and knoto that their only chance
to break this rule-for it is a rule-is to
| toaoer their prices, as an inducement to pur-
chasers. Such an establishment is the
Agency at ii North Gay st. Every style,
make and manner of Sewing Machines are
to be had here at rates considerably lower
than they can be purchased at the regular
agencies of the several companies.
Patronize the agency which, among
other inducements, offers an unusual one,
that of giving written guarantee for ,foe
gears to each purchaser"
The reading of the above article i'm
pressed your correspondent with the be-
lief that there was "skeleton in the
closet" of some of the Sewing Machine
Companies. Moreover, the question of
the extension of the Patents of the Sewing
Machine Combination, which engrossed
so much of the Congressional talent at the
last session of that body, set the ball of
inquiry in motion as to the continued high
prices of Sewing Machines. Some testi-
mony was there introduced, tending to es-
tablish the fact, that Sewing Machines
could be exported to Europe and re.ina-
parted to this country, duty being paid IN gold
each aoay, and then ne sold in our market at
about two-thirds, or even less than the
charges of some of our agencies through
out the various towns and cities.
In order to gain whatever information
was comeatable," touching these matters,
your correspondent "looked in " upon the
manager of the Representative House y
in the Sewing Machine business in this
city, located at al North Gay Street, when
the following colloquy ensued:
Correspondent &c have called, sir, in
behalf of the 4Egis and Mtelligencer and
the citizens of Hartford county generally
to enquire if you can and will sell first
class Sewing Machine of any of the various
makes for $25 to $35, as you advertised
and if so will you give me some informa-
ton touching these points ?"
Manager "Yes sir, we will give you
any information desired"
Corr: "How can you do it,
Man: because we employ no middle
men, canvassers or agents, and allow no
discounts to dealers. They sWindle the
public out of more than half of the real
cost of all machines so sold. There is no
machine on the market but what can be
sold at our prices and then give reason
able manufacturers profit. We have built
| up the largest business in the South and
West by retailing LIST class machine to
customers direct at wholesale prices Our
machines being equal to any manufactured
are sent out by express with aCritten guar,
antee for gears, to any part of the country
with the privilege of examination before
paying for the same. Any and all ma.
| chimes so purchased, can be exchanged
within 30 days, if not found satisfactory
| We refer, with commendable pride, after a
record of 10 years, to any of our old Gus.
toners, and for Responsibility and Fair
Dealing to any reliable and first class Jusi
ness Jtrm in Baltimore City, (omitting, O
course, rival Combination Sewing Machine
Dealers)"
Corr: "1f this is fact, sir, why do the
various managers of other companies
charge from $50 to $50 for the same kind
of machines which you claim can be pro.
| duced at $35 at the most 2"
Man: "All charges in excess of oul
prices go to maintain instructresses, high
| priced officers and offices, and other ex
peuses"
Corr; Do you not employ agents in
your business ~
| Man: "No Sir, agents or canvassers
so-called, are the gampi,es of the sewing
machine business, and add over one hun
dred per cent. to the cost of every sewing
machine introduced by them into house
hold"
Corr: "Then l infer that you are moi
friendly, in business, to agents and can,
vassers ~
| Man: ono, Sir, we are not, most EN-.
phatically. Agents and canvassers are oul
sworn enemies, because we will not sustain
their unjust monopolies and thus detrauc
the public.
Corr: "They tell me that you do til,
largest business of any house in Baltimore
Is this true, Sir, and will you tell me hoa
you do it2
Man: "Yes, Sir, we believe you hay,
been correctly informed. We advertis
literally, do business direct with the Gus
toners, SO to speak, pay no commissions
and avoid all middle-men. BY adherin!
strictly and literally to these rules, we hav
demonstrated to the satisfaction of thous
ands of our patrons that first -class sew
ing machine can be sold at our prices"
Corr: Can the companies long con
tinue to sustain their present prices ~
Man: "No, Sir, think not. The pub
lie have, through the late investigation
before the U. S. Senate Committee, becom
enlightened as to the original cost of sew
ing machines, and will not pay agents thei
extortionate prices"
Corr: ~ have heard that many person
agree with you, sir, in the cities and cour
ty too"
Man: Yes, the people of the countr
have been compelled to pay over 200 pc
cent. profit on a Household Necessity, bs
cause Of this unjust system, at a time toc
when the price of all other articles of ne
cessity have been contracted nearly one
half in value. In proof Of which we al
in receipt of hundreds of letters from a
sections of the country encouraging us j
our efforts to thus benefit the public, askin
for and offering to distribute our circular
and price lists among their immediat
friends"
Corr: In carrying out your plans, ST
do you not meet with OPPOSITION frol
| apenta and old established nealaro ~ 9th,