New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-29
VAIL or 4 SETTING MACHINE AGENT

WITH LOCKS AND BELLS.
1.-The canvassng business is played out In
NewYOr" said an old sewng-machine agent the other
afternoon he stopped to rest awhile in Madison
Square. I've tried OF late years to sell almost every
thing-spring-beds. clOtheswringers, books albums,
furniture, novelties etc.-besdes my regular line,
and find it is about hard to
take orders for thing another.
You see the soliciting business has been done to death
and people sick OF being pestered day IN and day out
with agents OF this and that article Then many agents
entirely unscrupuOu3 THEY'LL tell all sorts OF yarns
to make SALE and almost everybody is suspicious even
ofthose OF who try get along with little lying as
possible"
"What wages can tho average canvasser earn T.
years ago. when the sewing-machine business was
in its glory, used to make S7J and 500 week selling
machines here In NcwYork. but it is exceptional
what the average agents | should say that $40
to $40 Is fair average for canvassers generally on,
buy from now to the stores either because they
consider more respectable to do so or because they
imagine they can save our commissions. IL Is more
difficult 10 get mt housekeepers now than formerly All
tencmenthOuses and flats that are erected nowadays
locks ''' and bells OF such character
Thar n Is sble TO get inside without letting
II he who are, and this Is fatal to success
Sometimes we manage 10 get upstairs by tipping lne
make SALE which happens 80 often as TO be almost the
rule or course always enter the door OF an apart
liable be taken for sneak thieves, and either
kicked down stairs handed to the police. few
days experience OF this kind usually sickcns
and 1t exceptional for green hands to stick
to the business for than few weeks at the utmost
Hence, the sewing machine companies and other con
employing canvasscrs are compelled to advertise
for agents continually OF course they never state openly
what they want men TO do for they well know that no
man worth his salt would notice such an adj They put
In like this, which you may see almost daily III
certain papers:
4 MAN ABOUT %. OF NEAT ADDRESS. WHO is
hquck TO learn and Wiling to work. wanted at store corner
| st. after q.
NnU tba
suppose the position TO be that OF regular sales
| man and there is usually a large number or appll-
cans for the place These are met by an adrot mana
who paints such glowing pictures or the cauvassing
business that ten he start as many as he wants
to work. and of course few will always stick, being IN
nenced do largely by the advance OF - or 70
! week that Is paid for fortnight or so until III is
seen whether the sell or not. This money Is
deducted OF his commissions when he earns Them
Nearly all goods handled by agents are sold on the
| instameut plan, are they not 49,,
Oh yes -tcnths Of them at least The credit
system still prevails a remarkable extent among the
middle lower classes OF this city, and after years OF
experience think IL, general thing good one II
l. certainly n great help poor people The abuses OF
are greatly exaggerated The dealers are seldom un-
lust They dare be because OF the notOrety such
course generally nsurcs don't think that ever saw
trouble between BUYERS and sellers Of this kind that the
! fault was not the side OF the former"