Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-24
1T PLEASES THE PEOPLE.
A SYSTEM OF FREE DISTRIBUTION OF
MERCHANDISE
Inaugurated by Kaufmanns-H Is Filling
the Mammoth Stores With Purchasers
Very sntisfactorv to An Concerned.

Inaugurated by Kaufmanns-n Is Filling
the Mammoth Stores With Purchasers
Very Satisfactory to An Concerned.
Kaufmanns' store has been an unusually
busy place during the past six days and no
wonder-for this firm are again giving their
many patrons the benefit OF their free dis
tribution system, which is the most success
full advertising plan ever originated and
carried out by this well-known house.
From o'clock. last Monday morning until
10 O'Clock last evening no less than 1000
worth of merchandise was actually given
away. The system of distribution is a very
simple one. and there is no doubt as to the
sfairness of the method, as the operations of
those connected with its management are in
full view of the customers themselves. At
the termination of each five minutes during
the day Miss Kate Mckee, the time
keeper presses an electric button, which
rings large gong in the entrance of the es-
tabiishment. The first purchase money
which reaches Miss Maggie Beilstein, the
cashier, after this signal, is returned to the
purchaser and happy customer leaves the
store. 1t makes no difference whether the
amount is so cents or $50 it is refunded as
cheerfully as it is taken. Miss Mckee,
the tlmekeeper, regulates the ringing of
the gong by stop watch which indicates
fractions of second. It impossible for any
body to tell who will be the lucky purchaser,
nor can there be any collusion between the
time keeper and cashier. By actual count
there are given away under this fve-minute
rule, l0o purchases during the hours from
A. NJ. to 6 P. NJ. Yesterday, owing to the
fact that the store was kept open until 10 P.
M, cash was returned to 156 persons. A
complete list of each days fortunate patrons
a m No. los ic ynuh 1icha cd
clusively in The Dispatch this morning and
will be found on the eighth page. A member
of the firm in conversation with Dispatch
reporter yesterday, said that "while it was
an expensive way of advertising, vet he was
satisfied that in the long run it paid the
hrm. 1t it is a business venture, which,
though costly at first, pays us by attracting
thousands of buyers which tends largely to
reduce the stock of fail and winter goods.
'This reduction in stock he said,
means saving to us of about 81, 900 in in
surance and IS, 900 in interest, besides Civ
ing us plenty of room for new spring goods
and enabling US to lay in an entirely new
and fresh stock next fall -
Beginning with tomorrow morning at
five minutes after o'clock the free distri-
button will continue every five minutes
until o'clock in the evening each day, and
on Saturday evening until 10 o'clock. The
interest that is taken in this novel mode of
drawing people to this popular house is well
illustrated, not only by the throngs on the
several floors, but by the crowds that stand
about the cashiers window and watch
the lucky cash receiver as it pops from the
tube. If they have not already tried their
luck the temptation is too great for them to
resist, and they forthwith proceed to make
a purchase. 1t is amusing to see some who
watch the timekeeper closely, and when
they think they have just time to make a
purchase and have their. cash reach the
Office as the bell rings, rush to counter
and buy something, no matter what And
sometimes they ''get there" too Still, all
have an equal chance for, as stated above,
nothing could be more fair than this system
of free distribution.