Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-03-07
"Ntbblfng,' ~

Some of our grocerymen complain of
species of biped who infesG stores and are
constantly nibbling around, taking chew
Of tobacco, bit of cheese, a lump Of sugar,
an apple or handful of berries, or anything
to which they take fancy. Four or five
Of these nibblers could easily destroy the
net profits. 1t is very annoying, to say the
least of it, even though some regard it mere
thoughtlessness.
This disposition to nibble we re gard
mild species of kleptomania, with which
nearly everybody is afflicted to greater or
less degree. Groeers undoubtedly suffer
more from it than any class of tradesmen,
as they deal in articles which every person
is disposed to eat, and in order to sell their
wares must expose them to sight. AT one
time, the custom provelled of covering up
barrels or boxes with wire netting, through
which customers could see but not taste;
but this plan seems to be generally aban-
doned. Perhaps it is on the principle that
'stolen fruit is always the sweetest" that
the lump of sugar, the piece of cheese, the
peach, the bunch of raisins, or whatever 1t
NAV be, which is ''tasted" is always better
than the package, of which it is a sample,
when it is delivered at home. There are
many persons who are conscientious in this
respect and nevor touch an article until it
Is weighed out, but they usually have to
taste it before it is tied mp and they know
it is always better than when the package
is opened at home. Those little tastes are
almost matter of necessity, and the man
who never permits himself to indulge in
them carries with him through life very
heavy cross.
If it were only the regular customer, one
whose trade is worth something, who ia
Ill - v1sn n1r
might remedy it by adding small percent
nge in adjusting his ratio of profits to ex-
penses. Some have suggested that to the
nibbler's bill should be added now and then
an item
Nibbling to date.~..................... 70
Very few persons have much idea Of the
extent of this tax upon the dealers in city
like this. We recently asked retail grocer
what nibbling cost him and he said at first,
dollar day, but upon second thought
he said it was more. 1t probably amounts
to fully $500 year-almost the cost of a
clerk-and taking the whole city together,
it will amount to fully $3.50, 900 to $500, 900
a year. This seems like large sum, but
an estimate can readily be made which will
support it, especially if it includes the nib
bling of clerks or their takings of cigars,
etc.
We have heard of lounger who was cur
ed of whiting a tailor's counter by having
corner of his coat tail cut off by the tailor's
shears; but this will not put an end to the
nibbling. Iu some cases, some such rem
edy is necessary, and a grocer must estimate
whether he will gain or lose by offending
customer who ia an inveterate and persis-
tent nibbler. In the main, however, he
must make calculations upon q large
amount to be lost by nibbling and which
amount belongs to the invisible shrinkages
which ara responsible for many bad bal
ance sheet.
1t is a passion of human nature which
must be met, and, like many other evils,
nibbling must be kept in check as much as
possible, but it can never be done away
with entirely.-Amcrican Grocer.