Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-13
WOULD ABOLISH
TRADING STAMPS
GROCERS HOLD MEETING TO
DISCUSS PLANS
Decision Reached That Those Desir-
ing to Use Little Tabs May Pro-
cure Them From Merchants
Exchange

Trading stamps, their good features
and bad ones, were thoroughly thrsshed
out last night at u meeting Of the Re
tail Merchants exchange In Burbank
hall. The discussion was heated on
both sides and decision was reached
that the merchants who desire trading
stamps may In the future procure them
from the exchange, the officers and di-
rectors Of which declare that they can
Issue them cheaper and give better
value than the regular trading Stang
companies
Most Of the audience was composed
of the retail grocers of Los Angeles
The only merchants who expressed
their opinions were those who are not
using the stamps. The trading stamp
com panies had a representative who
endeavored to charm the audience and
met with a roasting" at the hands OF
Chairman Major Powell, retired
groceryinan now living at Pomona.
Talk Of Square Deal
There has been a movement on foot
to stop the use of trading stamps en-
tirely on July, and a petition to this
effect has been started. The opposi-
ton of some of the merchants to giving
up the stamps entirely led to the de-
cision of the exchange to issue them
themselves for the benefit of those who
desire to use them.
Secretary Pauling of the exchange
said that most of the merchants who
now use the stamps do so for protec-
ton and not to secure now business
as was the first intention of the sta1nr
promoters and what the solicitors say
the stamps will do. He stated thai
some of the merchants gave away the
stamps just because some of their com.
petitors in the same block did.
Mr.. Pauing complained also that the
trading stamp companies are not Civ
ing the retailers a square deal; thai
they are charging a large percent fol
the stamps and that the articles thai
of poor quality.
Favors Abolition
S. ]. A. Facenda stated that the
trading stamp business as now con-
Quoted threatened to put many of the
merchants out of business. He was IL
favor of abolishing the stamps. alto
gether but said that as some of the
merchants are 10th to give them up il
was his belief that the best way to gel
rid of the present system is OF flight
the devil with his own fire." or in Other
words for the exchange to establish q
trading stamp company of its owr
whereby the merchants could secure
them at actual cost.
Mr.. Facenda declared that the pres
ent systems are misleading schemes
to get perpetual revenue from fools. "
He said that the giving of trading
stamps over the counter is a meek and
insignificant transaction.
J. r. Newberry cited instances where
grocerymen have failed on account OF
the promiscuous use of trading stamps
He said that he had never used then
and could not see how others could af'
ford to give away from two to five
percent on the dollar in trading stamps
He declared that the profits or
groceries are so close that grocer
cannot afford to give one per cent.
He avised the grocerymen to get the
people to place confidence in them as
the best way to do away with the trad
ing stamp which he considered but ar
unsuccessful attempt to fool the
people.