Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-08-20
NOT ALWAYS DAMAGED.

The Goods That Are Known In
Trade Circles rs "Seconds."
ut does not follow" said the buyer
for one of the sections of one of Wash
ington's big department stores, that
goods which are known to the public
and to the trade, and especially to lady
shoppers, us seconds are damaged
goods.
Goods of all classes are known to
the trade under three great subdivi-
sions the absolutely perfect, the
seconds and the short ends-and their
importance and value are regulated &C.
cordingly.
"rhe manufacturers of goods Of all
descriptions, from locomotive to a
spool of thread, do not try to dispose
of their products us perfect unless they
really are such, however light the con-
sciences of some retail dealers may be
on this point. Woolens and cottons at
the mills and all goods sold by the
yard and down to bicycle tires are
carefully inspected for flaws and de-
fects of the minutest description. Such
as are not up to the standard of merit
placed thereon by the house turning
them out are laid aside by the experts
and classed as seconds. These are dis
posed of to the trade under this name
and at q greatly reduced price rs COM
pared with the perfectly made article.
"For instance, let US take the case OF
mems collars, and especially the high
turnover collar. After being Numbered
they are examined for defects, the
most prominent Of which Is slight
break in the linen on top in front where
they button. 1t may be scarcely per-
ceptible, but it is enough to cause it ia
be thrown aside, and the name of the
maker Is not stamped thereon, as would
be the case IL it were perfect. Very
often one of the buttonholes is slightly
torn or there is a little scratch in the
linen on the outer side. Some firms sci
thousands of dozens of these collars Q
year ut very low price, while some
Of the defects are not perceptible to the
eye of the purchaser, who buys the
| goods at retail at less than half the
| cost of the perfect article. The same
is true with bicycle tires, the makers
| cutting their names off the rubber
| Dealers are careful not to have theil
names go on seconds, as the public
would judge their perfect articles by
the imperfect, relying upon the name
/ 90 20 mt, 20 I,,,,y n
article.
"In weaving yarn goods a broker
thread or loose pin or few drops O
oil from the loom will make half ,
dozen or more yards imperfect, We
salable us short ends. These are GU
off from the bolt and sold cheap t,
dealers who make specially of han
ding such goods. Some mills will have
at the end of the season thousands o
these short ends. The retail buyers
and jobbers secure them ut low prices
the public very often supposing tina
they are getting bargains in the per
feet goods at less than known marke
rates. Usually they receive full valu'
for their money.
"The loss to the manufacturers ant
the mills from seconds and short end!
makes big hole in the profits at til,
end Of the season, and this loss Il
taken into consideration in the whole
sale price asked for the perfect goods
In some mills they have system o
making the operatives pay for any diff
ference in the damaged goods wher,
the loss may be traced to their per
sonal fault and not that of the ma
chine. This system makes the opera
tives very careful, as it materially af
fects their wages. If manufacture
attempted to put on the market sec
onds for perfect goods, the retail deal
ers would not buy from him, and TIN
public would likewise withdraw it
patronage" Washington Star.