The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-22
Bargain Tables.

One of the many unacountable things
of common cogniZance is the fact, that
in all matters intimately connected
with their own personal interests the
majority of people seem to be guided
by whim or impulse rather than sound
judgment. At this season of the year
when bargain tables" are feature of
the shops in all large cities word for
bargain hunters may be of practical
value. It must be conceded at the
beginning, that however much thev
may pride themselves on their know
ledge, the majority of people are not
judges and do not try 10 become Judges
of goods, and herein lies the advant-
age OF the unscrupulous merchant. 1t
is common thing for the shopkeepers
to mix few excellent pieces of goods
with inferior ones on a general coun-
ter and, without stopping to consider,
the average shopper is quite as likely
to select one as the other. Merchants
who pride themselves on their honor
able name have been known to have
two pieces of broadcloth of the same
value, which were bought at the same
price and yet sell one at two dollars
higher than the other to accommodate
over fastidious customers. There are
shops in New York and Boston, where
such practices as these are scorned,
but they can be counted on the fingers
OF one hand. It is common belief
that the stock Of dry-goods stores left
over after the season has past is in
Variably reduced. This is true of
ultra-fashionable goods, or goods
which for some other reason have been
found undesirable and the merchants
believe will be unsaleable another sea-
son, but it is not true of standard goods.
Merchants who buy in large quantities
receive. in consequence, a heavy dis
count and are able to sell these goods
at lower prices than a small dealer.
This is true of dry-goods stores, also
of groceries and all shops of whatever
kind. Such merchants in dry-goods
often take large lots at a low price.
which contain certain percentage of
what are known to tradesmen as
seconds" and of other goods that the
manufacturer is glad to be rid of
Seconds are manufactured articles
which have fallen short in dye or
weave of the standard of the manu-
facturer. 1t is an easy matter to dis
pose of pretty patterned, well dyed
cloths. Such goods, in the tradesman's
language, ''sell themselves" but the
undesirable patterns, the blunders of
the dyer and the faulty goods of the
weaver, must be disposed of by more
adroit means, or, in the language of
the trade again, ''forced" on the mar
ket. The system of paying the en-
ployes premium for selling such
goods cannot be too strongly condemn
ed; yet this is practice which pre-
walls in nearly all the large stores in
cities. Unless goods are all seriously
injured by fire so that they are prac-
tically of little value, they are seldom,
OF never, sold at burnt goods" or
''wet goods" sales under the regular
price. If any person wishes to verify
this statement she need only to get q
sample from such sale and match it
at the nearest dry-goods store. It is
not an uncommon thing to drag few
blankets over the floor in some shops,
and advertise "soiled goods" sale,
selling the blankets ut regular prices.
Even good old shops take advantage of
a slight fire to advertise sale of burnt
goods, and it is 4 call that never seems
to fail to bring crowd of customers.
Often certain grades of wool-cloths,
hosiery and other articles are offer
ed for sale at price lower than
they can be manufactured again on
account of over-production. Such
bargains. however, are found in shops
at the beginning of the season and not
at the end and the clerk seldom urges
such goods on the purchaser; it is not
necessary as there are plenty of pur-
chasers for such bargains. - Good
housekeeping.