The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-02-13
"Alalodorous and merciless. :"
"Sculy old bon constructor. "

como COMIC. we are, indeed, cor
poration, but ono duly organized,
legal, lawful aud law abiding, 1t is
not shown or proved That we are
unjust. We have not exucted EEK.
orbitant or unoonscionable prices"
We are selling books cheaper thnu
our predecessors, aud cheaper than
onr present competitors. We en-
ploy labor ut fair prices; we buy
ami sell ut fair prices, not buying
goods or obtaining IL market under
false pretences, aud always honestly
aud promptly pnying our debts.
We earnestly cndcavor to find out
what is wanted, aud then bv ali our
skill aud means eudenvor to pro
dure it and supply it to the people.
The country IS still free. Those
who like our books and want thom
buy them.
We have not even made begiu-
ming In crushing out competition"
This is plainly aud painfully enough
shown by the showers Of Islander
aud abuse our competitors arc be.
slowing upon us through such of
the newspapers rs will afford them
this advertising.
We are not "gorgon headed" nor
a vampire" and wo hive no
"beak." Neither are we "cor-
morant," nor "A "monster," nor a
"scnly boa constructor" In fact.
we arc just plain every day folks;
not undertaking to reform other
people, but miudiuB our own bust
ness, and letting things alone that
wo Know nothing about, aud on
deavorlng to publish aud sell good
school books.
We nre not organized to control
the school business" bat to pursue
1t aud promote IT; not to injure
tho schools. but to supply them
with the best books aud build them
up.
In the Same breath we are
charged with raising prices, com
pel!lug the public to pay more tnau
ever before, aud with reducing
prices to crush out the competition
Of smaller houses. We respectfully
submit that 1T is impossible we
should be doing both these things
ut the same time.
THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR PRICES.
Up to 1890, when the American
Book Company was formci, ii had
been the universal custom of all
school book Publishers to list their
books ut wont were known rs
WHOLESALE trade" prices. The prices
by mail, postpaid, were uniformly
the wholesale Inst prices with Que
sixth OF tho price addedsto provide
for postage. No concerted attempt
had ever been made to control the
retail prices ut which school books
were sold to pupils. Amid many
and conflicting Interests such Goa
troll could not be accomplished. in
many localities from 80 to - per
cent. was added to the Wholesale list
price by the local dealer; this form.
ell just cause OF complaint OF OK
orbitant retail prices.
The American Book Company, rs
soon us 1t was organized Tor busl
ness, determined 10 relieve It's Ia
irons from the burden oi thess 100
high retail prices, and they hoped
III THIS movement the public would
recognize u determination TO serve
their interests. The greatest dis
count previously given to large deal
ers and Boards OF Education was 10
per cent. They announced that
their future discount to large deal
ers, and 10 Boards of Education IN
thoriHea 10 purchase, would he III
creased to - per cent, ON condition
That dealers should cooperate to
furnish their books ut retail TO the
pupils ut the wholesale list prices.
The one aud leading aim IN respect
To prices, which has been CONSTANTLY
adhered to by the American Book
Company from that time uutil now,
has been to insure, SO far az 1t Is in
It's power, the placing OF its publ
cations III the hands OF actual con
sumers, at the trade list prices. One
OF the most potent Influences 10 Ell
feet TINS change was 10 advertise
everywhere that any OF It's pubiic.
tIonS would be sent free by mali on
receipt OF list price, ahonshIug the
o-slXth additional 10 the list price
which had previously been required
10 pay postage.
To accomplish this great objec. -
the mnhlnS Of our former Wholesale
prices the present retail! prices We
have not only maize the uIsGouut OF
- per cent, above named, hut in
special cases we have Incurred very
considerable expense to arrange with
large Joboers OF books, or With dc
pusitories established uudcs drec
ton o! law, or with boards OF Edn
cation, to insure Il better aistrlbu
ton OF our publications IN every
region, 30 matter how remote or
difficult OF access. at prices which
should not be beyond our published
Wholesale rates.
la establishing this new retail
rate tile American Book Company,
III the ways explained abov1, hns