Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14

wants in style and price, but will not decide
until he looks around, for perhaps he will
''find something that will please him still
better at lower price;" the customer who
cannot make up his mind whether to buy
ready-made suit or '1eave his measure with
his own tailor, you know" the customer
who is Indifferent as to whether he buys to-
day, next week or next month, and the one
who doesn't know whether he wants light or
dark, medium or heavy weight, business or
dress suit, but wants time TO study over 1t,
and "will call in again" These customers
all require delicate and sklllful handling.
| No specific rules can be laid down, as no
| two cases are precisely alike, and the sales
man must use considerable discretion in
using an argument that will at once be orlef
and effective.
An entirely opposite, though none the
less curious character, is the "would-6e
dude Heis generally diminutiye specl-
| men of humanity, and his clothes always
appear as if they had done considerable
service. The coat he wears is little
"dinky" and looks about two sizes too short
for him, and hls TROUSERS want coa1lng
down. He is invariably "bargain hun
tel" and as he examines goods, with his
thumb and forefnger twisting the eLd of his
thin, sickly-lookIng mustache. he e1cltes a
feeling of mingled pity and contempt he
usually wants a suit costing anywhere be-
tween S5 and $40. but which must have the
appearance of 500 suit, and he is as exact
in regard to material, style, fit and work
manshlp as il he were really purchasing
suit at the latter price.
HIS WIFE DECIDES.
The oddity who worries you for half an
hour trying on clothes and admiring HIM
self in the mirror and finally tells you he
dare not purchase unless he brings his wife
along, is nuisance and is about on par
with the customer who wants lust any
thing" to wear for few days, for as rule,
this latter individual can hardly be pleased
from your whole stock. There is the tony"
customer who walks in like lord, and after
consuming considerable time, cooilyIinforms
you he does not want suit, because he
"never could wear ready-made clothing;
or perhaps pulls out his watch, and like
Grip Van Winkle'' after 20 years sleep,
suddenly awakens to the fact that he has
train to make within five minutes, and of
course cannot remain any longer. A some
what similar, although a more considerate
customer, is the one who tells you as he
enters that he knows it is impossible to fit
him, but wants to try ',just how near he can
get ready-made suit to match custom
suit he had seen somewhere else, but which
was too expensive He expects close
attention, although he has not the slightest
idea of purchasing.
CAN'T HANDLE A CROWD.
= The customer who brings three or four
friends to assist him in selecting is worse
than pestilence. Through their various
dersive remarks the would-be purchaser be-
comes disheartened. His friends have varied
tastes, but he must have them all pleased as
we'll as himself, and should they finally agree
on the same article, the chances are that the
buyer will tell you he wouldn't wear it as
a gilt" The salesman must be on sociable
terms with the crowd, and act as a sort of
arbitrator if he wants to effect a sale.
Considerable talking and maneuvering are
required to handle the customer who has his
heart set on a suit worth about s. more than
he intended to lay out, before he will pay the
value or purchase something else not SO ex-
pensive. One customer expands his chest two
or three inches and and is not satisfied unless
he gets garment with the enlarged measure
marked thereon to fit him. The contrary
customer who wants a heavyweight suit
with the thermometer at SO degrees or the |
one who wants a summer-weight IN winter; |
the 'smart Aleck" who knows it all and
the "country Jake" from Greenville who
imagines he will be cheated unless he keeps |
a sharp lookout, are few more of the types |
met with daily.
THE BUSINESS MAN
There is really slrewd class of customers,
mostly business men, who must be worked |
as carefully and systematically as the solv- |
ing of geometrical problem. You don't |
know when you've got him or when you
haven't for he is as slippery as an eel. He
will eve you like hawk. cross.question
you closely, and appears to be constantly
studying; the answers must be prompt and
plausible, his gaze met unfinchingly and
without betraying the slightest emotion,
otherwise he loses confidence and will make
some excuse to get out.
The subteriuges customers resort to in or
der to depart, are often amusing. "Wrap
that suit up; I'll be back TOR it in Is min
utes;" 81 must meet friend down the
street to get some money" "I didn't in
tend to buy to-day; merely wanted to
pick it out and have it laid aside are few
of the stereotyped, worn-out excuses. Sui
fee to say the salesman's path is not
altogether strewn with roses; and if he
sometimes becomes respondent, is it to be
wondered at? SAML. WIELAR,