Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-29
THE TRADING STAMP
Opinions Of Leading Business Men
About the Scheme.
NOT LOOKED ON as LEGITIMATE
A Series of Interviews Well Worth
Careful Attention.
PUBLIC MUST PAY THE BILLS

The exposition in The Evening Star yes
terday of the methods of the Trading
Stamp Company, and the description of the
manner in which the individuals compris-
ing it make such enormous profits at the
expense of the merchants who patronize
the scheme created a decided sensation
in all Washington business circles, and
the trading stamp was almost general a
topic of conversation today as the death of
Henry George. The interest taken in The
Evening Stars publication was so great
that Il corps of reporters was sent out this
morning to ascertain the views of the lead
ing merchants of the city upon the subject.
The results of the interviews are given be-
low. perusal of them Will plainly show
that the consensus of the mercantile opin-
ion in Washington is in decided opposition
to the introduction here of any scheme
which can only benefit those who have no
interests in this city. and whose profits i'm
mense as they are, will be acquired from
local sources.
Benefits Not Local.
Mr.. s. w. Woodward of Woodward 4
Lothrop: Il don't understand how Iegiti-
mate merchandising entertain such
propt sition. The trading stamp is giving a
peicht 10 persons VINO are HOt w dSHlHS-
tonians. having no interests whatever in
the city, and Is altogether beneath the dig
nifty of any f1rst-class establishment. 1t is
an attempt en- the part of shrewd and sharp
Individuals to make merchants think their
BUSH ess can be increased in a degree he
yond the results of their own legitimate
care of it. There is no business. except
patent medicine or something like patent
medicine. that can stand an expenditure of
per cent for even legitimate advertising,
and wren it comes to paying per cent
for the privilege of attempting to secure
trade by such a ridiculous means 1t is pre-
posterous
MIR. William H Moses of W. B. Moses
& Sons: Il do not approve of such things
When third party comes in and shares
the profits with merchant the latter's
customers must suffer in the long run. The
merchants who secure trade by such
means simply put up prices eventually. and
the customers are made to pay the whole
cost of the attraction
More Than Partnership Interest.
Saks & Company: This scheme is SIM
ply one of many which, unfortunately. do
not come within the scope of the lottery
law 1t gives per cent away in presents,
and merchant who marks his goods so
that he can give per cent of his cash
receipts gives away more than a part
nership interest is worth in any concern
In this country. and must make it up some
now we OOn neeO anybody 10 arrange
our business affairs for US. and we could
not sell our goods per cent less than we
do without making our business unprofit-
able 1t was Offered to us and we, of
course. refused it,
Mr.. p. B. Hayenner. shoe merchant: II
do not regard the trading stamp scheme as
a legitimate means of securing business.
am surprised that anybody should be gull
Hble enough to imagine that he can increase
lis trade profitably by such a continuance"
Mr.. Mayer of Mayer Brothers & Co.: Il
wrote a letter TO the editor Of The Evening
Star last night congratulating him and
thanking him for the fearless exposition
of the trading stamp scheme Every sem
sible merchant and business man will COM
mend The Stars course"
: Manager Rich of B. Rich's Sons: st
think the trading stamp scheme should be
driven out of town. 1t is a trashy affair
at best. and is not calculated to influence
Sr attract good class of trade to those
who havc adopted 1t. If a reputa BILE mer-
chant desires to give the purchasing public
the benefit of premiums he had much bet
Ter give a trade discount, and extend the
favor TO the customer direct, rather than
give all the BENEFITS to outsiders
Prefer Postage Stamps
r. Harris Co.: THE stamp trading
scheme is not legitimate way of doing
business. The public may think it easy
to gather 500 stamps. but must remember
that it requires the expenditure of $40
to get for them an article worth SO AS
a matter of fact. it will retail at the high
est for s.. and could probably he obtained
for cash for $3.50. If the stamp mania
grows. we would rather give postage
stamps. for they at least have a face value
while the trading stamps have no value
whatever unless the $50 are collected"
Hecht & Co: I'VE are opposed to the
scheme If any merchant gives away
something for nothing. under this plan, the
70 or
customer will have to pay for it. If the
merchant wants to give away something,
let him give it himself. and not go into
partnership in the gift business with barber
shops and saloons"
William Hahn & Co: 1.-THE public will
have to pay for those trading stamps Any
one VINO expects to get something for moth
ing vii; be disappointed. If the merchant
has TO pay per cent of his profits to join
In this scheme. it stands to reason he will
add to the cost of the goods he sells The
money is not spent here. either, but goes to
an outside company"
Good for Customers.
Kings Palace: THE plan is a good thing
for the customers. They get the benefit of
the same prices that always prevailed and
have nothing to lose The merchant simply
sacrifices that much for his patrons"
NJ Goldenberg: The people will have to
pay the bill in that trading stamp scheme
No merchant in these times of low prices
and close profits can afford TO give away
per cent without gettiE-, il back from
those who buy, by adding ii to the prices of
articles Unquestiona5ly. The Star de- crvcs
great deal Of credit for tI., stand II has
taken in his matter Thos-. merchant; who
t;ti rot join in tie scheme w.r. placed in an
emil arrassing position. because they could
not explain to the citj.rn, as Wcii as The
Star has done the facts in the case"
LanSburgh & Bro. declined to talk aEG.lt
the stamp-tradinS plan.
Parker, Bridget 4. 20. also decline Il
make any comment upon the matter.
Refused the Stamps.
C. C. Adams. the manager of the Boston
Variety Store, who. in the absence of Mr.
Emmons s. Smith. the proprietor. was seen.
said that some idea OF what Mr. Smith
thought of the scheme could be gathered
from the fact that he had a chance to go
into it. but refused.
We preferred" Mr.. Adams said. ito give
cur customers the benefit of the ) per cent
directly in the purchase from us. and we
saw no reason to give IL to an outside
company. Under this scheme the GUS
toner IS supposed to get something for
nothing. but that is mistake, as business
Is not done that way"
Mr. George j. johnson of the firm of
johnson & Luttreli said he was one of the
subscribers, and. so far, he believed the