New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-30
"CHARGE CUSTOMERS"
THE ADVANTAGES THEY HAVE IN MAX.
ING THEIR PURCHASES
NO LONG WAITS FOR CHANGE. NO BoTHERsoM
EXPLANATIONS IN RETURNING UNsATrsFAc-
TORY GOoDS-wHY SroREK EEPERS
LIKE TO CHARGE"

The iconoclast who goes about destroying
idols is laying violent hands upon old household
adages, and sneers at the one which teaches
men-and women-to pay as they CO."
1T was all right once upon a time and It may
cash for what one purchases. but in New-York
have an account be a charge customer" says
the experienced shopper
Every body cannot have an account at his TAIL
or's and every woman cannot say charge and
send" when she makes purchase In depart
ment store Only those who have passed mus
ter with the credit man are favored and Il
scans to be the object of all the large dealers to
increase their lists OF charge customers and give
them those advantages which the pay as you
go" people cannot enjoy. To demonstrate the
advantages Of keeping an account with his
tailor. the friends Of the system say that II .
garment is sent home and does not fit It is re-
turned again and again until it does fit. and In
such cases where the proper result cannot be
brought about the purchaser simply refuses to
take il. The man who pays he goes has no
such advantages and the cash tailor will make
him understand after the garment has been
fixed" once that it would be useless to send It
back again. The man who has an open account
with his tailor may pay more for his goods than
the cash customer but he gets what he wants.
and his garments made in keeping with his
ideas Of shape and style But it is in the realm
Of woman's that the charge system shows
Its advantages more clearly.
Every large department store" said woman
who has studied the question. has a desk.
counter or Office for exchanges The woman
who has a charge account. and who has pur-
chased material for dress which. on reaching
home. she finds does not suit her. simply writes
to the house where she bought 1t to send for the
material and credit amount to my account
The mex, day polite messenger calls for tho
dress pattern. takes>it back. the amount is cred
tied. and she has lost nothing more than tho
price OF postal card. because of her change Of
mind. Now. if she had paid cash for the goods
she would have found It difficult matter to
make the exchange Instead Of sending card
she must take the goods back herself and ex-
plain matters to several people in the depart
ment where the purchase was made, and when
it is all over she receives a credit check which
entities her to the amount Of her returned pur-
chase in other merchandise.
do you know what bargain-day crush isl
Well. you can understand that although one
wants to get there and take advantage OF tho
opportunities offered in the papers by the large
purchases as quickly as possible. The woman
who pays as she goes must wait sometimes
long time. until her parcel and change como
back but the woman who says charge ana
send walks away Immediately after her pur-
chase has been made and she knows that her
goods will be delivered at her home within
few hours. But the storekeeper knows why he
offers so many advantages TO the charge Gus
toners. He knows that the average woman.
no matter how good housekeeper she may be.
will buy If she has an account than II she
paid cash for her purchases Accounts with
the grocer the butcher and the baker have
caused many a careful housekeeper to earn
censure for extravaganza. and paying cash in
those departments of housekeeping certainly
means saving money but If a woman can resist
the temptation to buy more than she needs ana
wants to shop with comfort, she should be
charge customer in the drygoods stores"