Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-30

IL iCSpouSe U the call puDl1SneQ IN
all the daily papers, there was a meet
ing at Odd Fellows hall last night of
merchants who are dissatisfied with
the method of distribution of premium
stamps. About twenty-five or thirty
merchants were present.
Inc premium stamp scheme is prob
ably familiar to nearly all readers OF
the Register. The Mutual Benefit Sup
ply Company sells the stamps to mer-
chants at a half cent each, and
stamp is presented with every purchase
OF merchandise to the amount Of ten
cents. Customers collect the stamps
and paste them in a book furnished
for that purpose. The stamps are ex.
changeable for merchandise at the
store of the supply company. The
company secured about 200 subscribers
In this city and neighborhood, includ-
ing merchants in all lines of business.
Mr.. Brooks, manager of the Supply
Company, was present at the hall be-
fore the meeting of the dissatisfie !!
merchants was called to order, and he
! engaged in d spirited controversy
with them regarding the merits of the
scheme. Before the meeting was
called to order, however, it was given
out that it would be held with closed
doors.
After ADJOURNMENT, it was learned
that the merchants discussed the sit
uation andFgot the advice of an attor-
ney VINO was present. 1t was stated
that in most Instances in which con-
tracts were procured from the mer.
chants, the Supply Company stated
that it would not make contracts with
Merchants in the neighborhood en-
gagged in the same line of business, and
that contracts were made with many
persons whom the company had verb
ally agreed to exclude. 1t was also
charged that the Supply Company does
not furnish the class Of goods for
premium stamps which it agreed to
furnish. Merchants also stated that
their customers are complaining on &C
count of the instability of a concern
which they say has no financial or
commercial standing.
One of the dissatisfied merchants
said to a Register reporter: THE pur-
chase of stamps by us means the sur
render of five per cent of our re-
ceipts to the Supply Company, and five
per cent of our receipts is a big slice
of our profits. Some of us have paid
as high as SIS a week for the stamps.
A man who uses the stamps and does
business of 1000 a month, pays the
Supply Company $50 a month. The
stamps are not worth very much when
it comes to exchanging them for mer-
chandise to the Supply Company, and
our customers are complaining on this
score"
Mr.. Brooks presented the other side
of the controversy. He said he had
been approached with a proposition to
charge one-fourth of a cent each for
the stamps, and endeavored to show
that such an idea was impracticable.
Several men who were present at that
meeting" he said, have told me that
the premium stamps increased their
sales and that the scheme is good
thing. | will undertake to show the
merchants that the distribution or
stamps does not cut off five per cent.
of their receipts, although l maintain
that if it does, their increased business
would more than compensate for the
loss. Why, we have turned down
number of persons who have applied
for permission to use the stamps, and
we have actually been sued by one
man because we took them away from
him on account of his failure to live
UP to the terms Of his contract.
eve are here to stay. We have
made contracts for one year with the
merchants, and all their customers
have a right to demand stamps with
their cash purchases. We have insert
ed advertisements in the papers an
nouncing our intention to remain, and
requesting notification of every re-
fusal to furnish stamps by merchants
who are under contract to do so. With
very few exceptions, the merchants
agree that their business has shown
a large increase by reason Of their use
OF the stamps. They are satisfied to
continue, and those who are dissatis-
fed must continue under the terms of
their contract. The insinuation that
we may leave town and not redeem
the stamps is foolish, as they are col
lected for every week"
The contract signed by the mer-
chants requires them to give a. stamp
with each ten cent cash sale, and to
display sign stating that dheB distTi+7
butte premium stamps.
The druggists are among those who
are expressing dissatisfaction, and il
is understood that they will hold
meeting within a few days to con-
slider the question of taking action as
a body.