The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-02-21
Store Habits.

don't forget that the horses are fine ones.
Store Habits.
The following extract from a paper
read by Charles Full of this city was
printed in the Grand Forks Herald
of Wednesday -
The last paper read for the day was
very apt and able one BY Charles Full Of
Pembina, on "Store Habits" 1t Twas one
Of the best of the day and his sallies of
wit were greatly enjoyed. He has had
very wide experience and this was plainly
shown by the article which was in part
as follows: Tricks in all trades but ours,
is saying as common as it is old. And l
take it that my fellow merchants in this
convention, being as they are men of hon.
esty and integrity, would resent, and
righteously too, the accusation that they
employed tricks and wiles in the conduct
of their business that we're not in strict
accordance with business probity.
The day OF the business ,rickster is past,
both in his dealings with the pnblic and
the wholesalers. The percentage Of fires
in mercantile stock which are of question
able origin is rapidly diminishing, the num-
Der of merchants who fail nowadays
and afterwards live in luxury is also de-
creasing, and everything goes to prove
that there is a higher standard Of bust
ness morals as we'll as business ability
than existed in times past.
Another and very vexing question to
the merchant is the price cutting habit.
This matter of throwing little off every
time to make the sale, is largely matter
of education with the customer, and If in
order to make the sale it is necessary to
do this it is the merchants own fault.
He has virtually given his customers no.
tice that the price marked or first asked
is not really the selling price, but the
marked price is subject to scale. This
is one of the hardest habits to shake off,
because when once the notice is given,
the die is cast and thereafter the store is
by common consent considered two
price store. There are TIMES, however,
when in order to close out the last OF an
article, or where the customer will take
original packages it is perfectly legitimate
and proper that a special price should be
made and the reasons therefor are very
evident to the most casual observer.
Now word or two as to clerks, and
may say just here that clerks are to
very great extent just what the proprie-
tors make them. If he is neat and tidy
in his dress, prompt in getting around in
the morning. orderly and systematic in the
business, the clerk is apt to emulate the
boss,
If noticed one of the boys going
through butt of tobacco and robbing it
OF its tags to get gun or a bicycle,
would ask him if it ever occurred to him
that lots of people bought the tobacco
Tor the sake of the tags and threw the
tobacco away. If l ever notice one Of
the boys piling matches and macaron on
the same shelf would ask him if he ever
noticed the peculiar delicate flavor that
matches give macaroni. If a customer
ever returned a piece of dress goods that
had had nail driven through it in the
packing case would endeavor ii possible
to make her believe she did it on the
road home, as it would be good deal
better to lose the customer than to make
good the damage, for she might try to
work the same scheme on you again
some time. And finally, if l were the
ideal merchant would do thousand
and one things don't do and refrain
from doing thousand and one things
that | do do, and i'll were listening to
this paper | would be glad that am
through" 4
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Full's paper.
which left the members Of the association
in roar Of laughter, the adjournment for
the day was taken. 6