Wichita eagle., 1889-08-09
Daily gayle
SECRETS OF SHOPPING.
A CURIOUS STORY TOLD BY A LADY
WHO HAD AN EXPERIENCE.

the Clerks-Offcial Shoppers for Private
EstabIishments-How They Are Watched
and Shadowed.
You often hear ladies complain of the mat
tention of statesmen and saleswomen that at
tention has been directed to the subject, and
l have been investigating the matter myself
a little. Every woman who shops has noticed
that at times she Is treated with a careless at
tention, often bordering on rudeness, for
which she is utterly unable to account At
other times, in the same house, she will re-
ceive the most courteous attention
This is almost always the fault OF the buyer,
although an innocent one, and one which she
would find 1t hard to avoid
Going through one of the large dry goods
houses one day last week l stumbled on the
cause My errand was very simple one
wanted a yard Of white lining silk, and also
wanted to keep my eyes open for something
pretty in an India silk
LITTLE TAP ON THE COUNTER
AS turned the corner Of one Of the depart
ments piece OF silk caught my attention,
and I stopped to examine it. A salesman inn
BfSuldlSaS Iilo OAlA OOA
binary qualities of this especial silk, and was
go extremely polite and pressing that for a
moment hesitated as to my answers or ex-
cuse for not buying. Every woman knows
that in shopping a moments hesitation is
often accompanied by direful consequences,
and frequently sends ker home with an arti-
Gle for which she has NO earthly use. A timely
recollection of some OF my own experiences
gave me courage on this occasion to explain
in few words and conciliating manner that
the material in question was not exactly
what | wanted, and to pass on with what
dignity might after the rather whitening
looks received. Further down the counter
again stopped, this time really attracted by
silk which | knew instantly that l wanted,
end would buy if the price and my purse
were not too far asunder.
l had heard little tap on the counter as
left it at the end, but did not, Of course, pay
any attention TO it, nor imagine for moment
that il in any way related to me. / found
the second salesman so inattentive and curt
In reply to my inquiries that l left the coun-
ter without the silk, which l really wanted.
AS left l again heard the gentle tap on the
counter l proceeded on my way toward the
lining silks, CHANGING right and left at new
goods in my way, and was again confronted
with curt and inattentive salesman when
inquired for white lining silk To make mat
tiers more perplexing, I had entirely forgotten,
if / had ever known, the special name by
which this brand of lining is called, and it
was several moments before ! could make
my wants plain to his uninterested highness.
finally got my yard of lining and left tthe
store in very depressed condition, and with
an ardent wish that | were Mrs Aston or one
of her kin, and could afford to ignore dry
goods houses, shopping, etc, which are sup
posed to be such joy TO the feminine heart.
TAKE II ALL N"
| was relating my experience that evening
to roonlful of people, and | noticed that
one bright young woman listened very atten-
lively, and, when l had finished. broke out
into peal of laughter and exclaimed
''Oh, they took you for a 7. A L!'
"And what is a T. A. - l said.
''Whv, T. A l. is some one-usually
woman-sent from some rival establishment
to fird out all the new goods, their prices,
quality, the size of the stock, and, in fact,
every point of information possible"
But why a T. a -" / asked. what
does it mean!
at means take it all in" She went on
TO explain further that the little tap-tap L
had heard, and which / had mentioned Incl
dentally, was signal from one clerk to the
other to look out for me and show me no
new goods, and she also said that my pur-
chase of a yard OF Lining silk was taken as
positive proof that was genuine I. A. l.,
as they usually bought some small article to
avert suspicion.
have been looking into the matter since
then, and | find that ell she said was true,
and very much more might be written on
the subject But merchants are extremely
uncommunicative, but / know that it is a
common practice to send people to find out
all that is possible about rival houses. A
bright girl is selected, one that is not long in
the house or has never been employed else
where If she is not properly dressed she
may go TO the cloak or suit room and put on
anything she may choose, and is then sent
with minute instructions to one or more
houses in the same line of business.
| happened to be n witness to the discom-
future Of young lady in a certain Sixth ave-
nue. house one day not long since She was q
saleswoman in another house and came in to
buy some ribbon. One Of the floor walkers
recognized her, and the proprietor being in
formed, she was publicly requested to leave
the place and never come there again. She
reported the affair 10 her own house in TWEEN
ty-thlrd street, and there Is now deadly
feud between the two establishments, the
house TO which the young woman belonged
claiming that she was on her own private
business, and not sent by them.
Saleswomen are not the only ones that are
used in this spying business. Many women who
drive in their carriages are regularly employed
and make business Of this very thing, and
very good salaries they command, too. They
often are obliged 10 make extensive pur-
chaSes, but these are always in the interest OF
the firm by which they are employed, and
the goods are quietly sent TO them day or
two after they are bought In this way rival
firms are accurately posted as TO the very
latest import2tions, the prices put on special
articles, and are enabled to secure the same
goods, and by the cutting of prices, deal a
very substantial blow TO competing trade.
| write this Is warning to women who
shop. and who do not care to be looked upon
with suspicion by the very people to whom
they must pay their money.-New York
Star.