Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-02
JUST ONE WEEK LONGER.
KAUFMANNS CONTINUE THEIR FREE
DISTRIBUTION.
Positively the Last Week, but Thousands
of Dollars Will Be Given Away-How
the Expensive Plan Has Been Beneficial
Incidents of One Day.

of Dollars Will Be Given Away-How
the Expensive Plan Has Been Beneficial
Incidents of One Day.
The great free distribution of merchandise
at Kaufmanns' has grown so popular during
the past two weeks that this enterprising
firm has decided to continue the
only. During the two weeks ending
last night the firm gave away
nearly $4,000 worth of goods, and
yet people have been disappointed.
Not disappointed in one sense, for
all customers have been thoroughly
satisfied with the value received.
Great throngs of people have kept the
large establishment full all the time, and of
course there was tinge of disappointment
for the expectant ones who visited the store
and, with watch in hand, tried to get the
price of a suit of clothes. dinner set or
some other valuable article to the cashiers
desk just as the bell would tap.
1t is partly for the benefit of these Gus
toners, as we'll as for the purpose
of still further reducing the large stock of
spring and summerssgoods, that the firm has
decided to continue the free distribution six
days longer. Of course 1t is an expensive
mode of advertising and the firm is honest
in the statement to the public that they
cannot afford to keep the plan in operation
beyond the time now set for it to close,
much as they would enjoy seeing happy
customers walking out of their store every
day in the year the possessors of some arti-
Gle entirely free of cost
AS it is, but 696 people can yet secure these
goods free. For each of the first five days dur
ing the coming week purchases, ranging in
value from 80 cents to $50, will be given
away to 10S people. On Saturday next 156
purchasers will be made happy in the same
manner. If the experience of the past two
weeks is any criterion, there will be great
scramble to see who will be the lucky ones
The public has had absolute confidence
in the fairness Of the plan from the very
start, two weeks ago. owing to the success of
the distribution last winter, and dur
ing all the time. The money from 1892
customers, aggregating in all thousands of
dollars, has been returned with the cheer
fulness that characterizes this firm in all its
business transactions. and there has not been
a complaint nor dispute from any source
Everything has passed off smoothly Peo-
pie and proprietors are delighted accord |
ingly.
There are some amusing incidents occa-
sionally that make the distribution interest |
ing and enjoyable. Sometimes customers |
will buy an article of small value to ''try \
the thing" as they put it. If they are sue |
cessful they feel like falling in the river be-
cause they didn't buy half the store If |
they are not successful in getting the first |
purchase free they follow the old adage and |
"try again. A woman made seven differ
ent purchases yesterday afternoon before |
her money was returned.
Frequently when persons are lucky the
first time they repeat the operation, and
quite number have received two pur-
chases in succession without paying cent.
But with this, like all other similar schemes,
there are people who imagine they can
''beat the thing" They go into the store
and make their purchase, looking at their
watches about every five seconds, as If run
ming on schedule time. They are the peo-
pie who are "sure of winning" The rest
is easy to guess
However, the firm is to be commended for
having adopted this plan, for while it is the
most expensive scheme that could be thought
of, the fact that it largely reduces its stock
of summer goods, will result in an
actual saving of $4,000 in insurance,
1000 in interest and will give the
1rm an abundance of room to dis
play their large stock of fine fall and winter
clothing just coming in. So that while 1t is
great financial loss in one way, in another
{ is a benefit and convenience, appreciated
oy the patrons as well as the firm.
Ihe distribution will continue during this
week, commencing again tomorrow morn
ng at o'clock.