Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-16

competition OF smaller houses. We re.
spectfully submit that II II impossible
we should be doing both these things at
the same time.
THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR PRICES.
Up TO 1890, when the American Book
Company was formed. II had been the
universal custom OF all school-book pub
fishers to list their books at what were
known az wholesaler trade" prices. The
prices by mail, postpaid. were uniformly
the wholesale-list prices. with one sixth
OF the price added to provide for post
age. No concerted attempt had ever
been made to control the retail prices
at which school-books were sold TO pupils.
Amid many and conflicting interests such
control could not be accomplished In
many localities from 80 TO Is per cent.
was added to the wholesale-list price by
the local dealer this formed a Just cause
OF complaint OF exorbitant retail prices.
The American Book Company. "a
soon as II was organized for business,
determined to relieve its patrons from
the burden of these too-high retail prices
and they hoped in this movement the
public would recognize n determination
TO serve their interests. The greatest
discount previously given to large bearers
and boards of education was 10 20 per
cent. They announced that their fu-
I
| boards of education authorized 10 Put-
chase -ould he increased to 20 per cent.
on condition that dealers should co-ope-
| rate 10 furnish their books at retain 10
the pupils at the wholesale-list prices
The one and leading aim in respect 10
prices. which has been constantly au-
! hered TO by the American BOOK COM
| pany from that time until now. mas oe'"
| 20 insure 50 far as IL is in its power.
ttNn
| hands Of actual consumers at the trade
| list prices one of the most potent IN
/ nuepces 70 effect this change was 10 ad-
| vertise everywhere that any OF It's pup
! LEGATIONS would he sent free by Hsi OH
recent OF list price abolishing the one
! sixth additional TO the list price "hioh
had previously been required 10 pay Pos'-
/ age. ..uo. tho
| making of our former wholesale prices
| the present retail prices. we nave ho'
| only made the discount Of 70 per cent.
| above named: hut, in special cases, We
| have Incurred very considerable eNpenSe
| 10 arrange with large iobbers of books
| or with depositories established under Ill
rection of law, or with boards OF euu
cation. 20 insure better Distribution "i
our publications in every region no MAJ
ter how remote or difficult of access. AT
published wholesale rates.
In establishing this new retail-rate the
American Book Company, in the ways
EXPLAINED above. has secured TO the peo-
rle practical reduction In the retail prices
of school books OF from SO 10 10 per CENT
for which action II would seem 10 deserve
credit and not abuse.
VARYING RETAIL PRICES IN DIE
FERFNT STATES ARE DUE 10
VARYING LAWS AND OTHER CON |
DITIONS.
In different States and under different |
laws various methods of reaching TINS |
one and the same general end in respect |
10 prices have been made use OF, put' |
amid all the differences, these two leau-
ing statements are absolutely true;
!. We have given to the prime pur-
chasing agencies in each of the states
where we have State contracts substan-
TALLY the same highest discount, ana
special concessions for handling and dis
tributing our books.
.. While il is manifestly impossible for
this company to follow each one OF It's
books into the hands Of the consumer,
absolutely insuring II shall reach MN
at a certain price. IL has exerted all It's
influence and power 10 bring about IoW'
Just. and uniform rates in the manner
above described And whatever differ
vail in differen, parts Of the country cam
not with any consistency or justice be
charged 10 the American Book Company.
We have generally insured in each
State the adoption. by the agencies imme-
diately supplying the pupils, OF the Tor
mer wholesale rate as the present retail
rate. But this retail rate has been sub
feet to these two notifications: ID In !
some regions distant from railroads and
rs 10 authorities |
thought a slight advance OF, say, ~ per
cent, was no more than just to the
dealers who were to handle the books.
and this they have allowed 10 be added to
our list prices 10 make their retail rate.
% On the other hand. in some States,
the school boards have awaited them
selves Of our best discounts and conces-
siUns, and have themselves undertaken
the responsibility and expense of distri-
butng the books to the pupils. either d.
recty or through local agencies, at
price something like 10 per cent. less than
our list prices.
To insure our customers against any in
crease of prices. We everywhere offer 10
contract to supply our books at present
rates for term of years with the guar
antee 10 give lower rates If such are any
where and at any time during the con-
tract given in other quarters.
Virginia enjoys from us to-day as low
prices as We give in any State or section
Of the country. We guarantee that oui
wholesale-list prices shall be maintained
as the rates at retail, and we give her
booksellers sufficient discounts to insure
these low retail rates. If any lower retain
prices prevail in other States-and less
do prevail in two or three-it is because
the school authorities are charged by law
with the responsibility and expense or
the distribution to the people, thus fixing
their own retail rate by making the dis
tributing charge a public expense instead
OF depending upon the local book-dealers.
in Virginia, TO do this work In return
for the discount and concessions these
dealers receive from US. As publishers
we Give from the prime buyers sub
stantlaly the same prices for our pub
locations in all parts OF the country, All
statements to the contrary by our enc, |
mics notwithstanding
The following is an illustration OF the
Pilots falsehoods. set out in its original
article and repeated in an editorial seve-
raj days later. 1t says that we furnish
Longs Language Lessons, Parts | and :.
at one price in Louisiana and the same
book at another and higher price In Viz
GINA The books are not the same. The
Old edition is used in Louisiana. where Il
has long been in use. The new edition
was entirely rewritten. Is larger, beauti-
fully Illustrated, ana Is more e@peHSiFc
in manufacture. Both are sold at their
regular advertised prices. and no one
has been deceived or wronged.
The charges. therefore. that we are re-
ceiyinR more for our books In Virgins.
than in South Carolina. Louisiana. and
other States where we have contracts, or
that our prices average higher than those
OF other school-book publishers. are alb
solutely false and without any foundG.
ton in fact. We have guaranteed in our
contract with Virginia 10 give IA low
prices as anywhere. This clause Of oui
contract has not been evaded or broken
in the slightest degree. and We have
placed in the hands of the Virginia Board
Of Education the fun. authentic, and in
disputable evidence on this point Mean
time. we advertise in all our catalogues
TO send our books at the guaranteed
rate to any one in Virginia by mail post
paid. as an insurance against imposition
in retail prices
As q further safeguard towards insr
ring 10 the public the established low
retail rates. the Virginia State Board OF
Education furnishes to each public-schooi
teacher. to be posted M In each school,
room I'm the State. a large placard. IL by
q inches, containing a full list of the
books adopted. with the authorized retail
prices annexed.
As to exchange rates The Pilot charges
that we make exchange prices less in
South Carolina than those contained in
.t.xt4 H..