The Washington critic., 1888-02-18
A BUSY DRUG STORE.
Visit to Merits Pharmacy-Intervi
with the Proprietor-The Motives
Which Led Him TO Reduce Prices.


with the Proprietor-The Motives
Which Led Him to Reduce Prices.
The extraordinary patronage which has
resulted from Mr.. i. T. Mertz's an
nouncement Of breakdown in thepnces
of drugs and other articles at his store,
No. l0ii + street northwest, is n testi-
monial which cannot fail to be gratifying
to that gentleman, and of which he may
well be proud. He is the pioneer in the
line Of reduced prices, and q conversation
held by CRfTlc representative last even
ing with Mr.. MertZ elected some facts
which will be read with interest. Among
other inquiries, the question was asked:
What first prompted you to reduce your
pricesW
~ have long believed" was Mr.. Mertz's
reply, THAT the prices charged every
where for goods in my line were unneces-
sarily high; and that the public was being
taxed more heavily than for, goods ofany
mindful of the fact that druggists (like
dealers in other goods) are in bust
ness to make money, / am also aware that
the prevailing prices demanded at drug
stores were excessive and in some cases
extortionate. / therefore concluded to
inaugurate n general system of reduction
by placing only n fair and reasonable
Iout vi ny hvVuS, 'huS N"VVilB uVMh
reigning prices"
dAnd yet you maintain high standard
in qualityT T was the inquiry.
"Most certainly. / am proud of the
reputation ] have gained for keeping the
best, freshest, and most complete assort
lnent of goods TO be found in any store of
its kind in this, city; and holding this
reputation in high estimation, j should be
foolish to ieopardize it by reducing the
standard. Low as are my prices my goods
are Of the very best quality to be found
anywhere
'dBut may Il not be said that what you
lose in your reduction on shelf goods you
make up in your high prescription rates2"
That is said. Such n report has been
circulated by certain druggists in this city.
am glad you asked the question. Let
me reply by saying that ! guarantee 10
compound any prescription brought 20 mn
store at from, fifteen 10 .ftty per cent. Tess
money that The same prescription tcW be put
up for at any drug store IN totgnl Beside
this, my policy is a public benefaction, in
that, now, IL is possible for persons of very
limited resources TO afford what have been
deemed high-priced prescriptions and
hitherto have been beyond their means"
"My prescription business" continued
Mr. Mertz, "has always been very large,
probably the largest enjoyed by any drug
gist in Washington, and is constantly in
crehslhB' Leu me lnVlte you 10 my pre-
scription department"
Mr.. Mertz led the way to large room,
entirely separate from his store, and re-
marked: "Here is where all my medi-
cines are compounded. The work is
done by myself and by large corps of
clerks, all registered and all of them
men Of large experience. Here we may
work without interruption, and we are
enabled to give our undivided attention
to this branch thus insuring promptness
and accuracy. This plan / have been
compelled to adopt because of an en-
larged business and TO prevent interrupt
tions which would be unavoidable in the
rush in my main store"
"You frequently have orders by mail
and telephone?n
"0h, yes. The fact that have reduced
the rates has become so well known that
am in constant receipt of orders in the
way you speak of; also, very many gentle
men on their way to their places of busi-
ness pass by all other stores TO patronize
me. Nor do they suffer in loss of time,
for have established messenger service,
by which deliver with promptness pre-
scription goods and all other articles to all
parts of the city in as short a time as if the
orders had been left at drug stores nearer
the homes of my patrons
"Do you not find your store too smallY'
Eyes, it is small although have en-
larged it by removing my prescription de-
partment, as you have seen; but with
large and efficient force of clerks am
L,Saabled to dispose of business with satis-
!, 'sretsry dispatch"
Then you are satisfied with the result
| OF your breaking the monopoly as you
| "Fully satisfied for ] an making
| living profit on my sales and gaining
| scores of new patrons daily, who appre-
ciate my disposition to sell goods at
reasonable prices. And IL / am satisfied
and my customers are pleased, what
reason have or they to complain ?''
| By this time the throng of waiting pur-
chasers had increased SO that Mr.. Mertz
was compelled TO terminate the conversa-
| ton, which he did by ycourteously inviting
the scribe to "call again.