New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-31


or 500. while its value. perhaps. does not exceed
SIS or $50.
THE RESULT OF HONEST TRADING.
I'm 1892 when Crescents and other leading wheels
on the American market listed at from $3.50 TO $loo
the public pulse strongly indicated demand LOT
general reduction In price They did not want
merely a decrease Of $40 or SIS. but they desired
the wheels listed at price within the reach OF the
masses In tho summer OF 1893 the proprietors OK
the Western Wheel Works had completed many
experiments they had been making, and by the In
PRODUCTION OF important and automatic machinery
they decided that they could meet this popular call
the ' quantity Of their wheels which would be sold
result would be SO extensive as to enable them m
frst Unite Intended Hence, it followed that in the fall
S % their hen sthtc the
Works gave notice that their prices for the the, next
sizes and grades OF their bicycles.
MANY remember how this announcement was
tsey said that any manuacturer could foresee
the state Of trade five years later and they vowed
grade wheel and list at SIS 1t is true rue that mathis this
able TO turn out only small number OF Wheels els
ann s Was that rT in the following year 5 BICYCLES
made and sG 0h he inr the Wheels at
slCo In 1885, during which year we increased our
output $50, So S SS2 prices of course remained the
same value being constantly enhanced, and the
fact that we had in h could be-
made and sold at price within the reach OF O., me
public resulted in tho sale of 10000 bicycles in the
year 1896
ALLEGED HIGH-GRADE WHEELS.
"a large percentage Of the so-called 800 wheels
are to-day sold at cut prices. and don't believe
any one will deny II. This is fact that Is well
known not only by the makers themselves, but by
the retail cycle dealers throughout the country ana
by the vast army OF riders and buyers. Agents
who handle many Of these alleged 500 wheels state
frankly that the dealer who endeavors TO maintain
that price loses more sales than he makes. This
condition of affairs does not exist only IN inc
politan district. but throughout the entire country
Dealers everywhere report that these $loO wheels
as sold in their localities bring from $50 10 So The
result OF this condition of affairs Is that those
prices or else continue to make up wheels bearing
'96 name plate and sell them at any price tna'
will move them Makers VINO are forced TO ui nn
their 81 product In order to sell them are inueed ~
sorry plight, and such methods ceary n na'ca'c
II do not wish TO intensity the ridiculous posi-
ton into which some manufacturers have drfted.
but the plain facts should be known and II IS sig
n0cant that while the output Of the largest bicycle
factory in the world has been insufficient to meet
the demand for our wheels. the public mas beer
treated to the peculiar spectacle of seeing some Of
the so-caed 500 makers resortns to various kinds
of novel methods In their earnest endeavors 10
market the wheels they have already assembled
QUESTIONABLE REDUCTIONS.
81 submit that If bicycle is worth Its list price
in January 1t Is worth that price In June, August
and October On the other hand, II a 800 wheel Is
worth only So in June IL certainly was worth no
more In January A maker who reduces his price
after the first rush OF the season is over Is not
dealing honestly with his earliest patrons. And
does It not naturally follow that manufacturer
who requires A to pay the full lis; price for his
bicycle In March and a few weeks later sells a
duplicate of that wheel 10 B for less money de-
frauds some one? The purchaser should be careful
to select a wheel the manufacturers OF which guar
antee not only the material and construction Oh
their bcyclcs but the price as well There are de-
fecive parts and there defective prices. which
should be repl iced with servceable or honest ones
'The only proper method In establishing "A list
price for a high grade bicycle is TO ascertain the
cost of production, well as the subsequent cx-
nenses OF marketing the total indicating the exact
value of the goods: add to that fair interest on
your Invested capital n reasonable profit to your
selling agents and you have fixed a price for your
bIcycies which can be fearlessy and positively
maintained - . =, ,, ,,,..
GO, down 10 firm business basis, list his wheels
in accordance it'll their worth. and deal with the
public fairly and squarely. Honest prices need no
change