New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-16
4 COMEDY OF COMMERCE.
Hozu Not to DO Business In Foreign
Countries.
From paily Consular and Trads Reports.

From Daily Consular and Trade Reports.
Consul Ledoux. of Prague, writes Of one dis
coura ging experience In which he tried to aid Amer
lean trade 1t is an excellent practical illustration
of how not to do business The consul says:
On March II. 1890. very high official In the king
dom OF Bohemia honored the newly created com
mercial Intelligence department OF this consulate
with visit Favorably Impressed by CERTAIN 1
system OF filing commercial literature he expresses
the desire to secure cabinet similar TO one in the
Be writeT So S Tes on o board '6 Chicago T6roas
indifference or neghgenes the uanutacJurers mad
cept the name plate Of the firm, which we found
later had disposed Of it's patent to others.
At the request OF his distinguished visitor the
standing the buyer besides the addresses Of hrms
Of high standing With whom G I ana pr Wsre
Is, 1906 The trial order was indisputably a re-
in this market. and for which fair demand could
~ fssat fs u9 rter qeve6 Ta from the manu-
facturers. Of which the following is an extract;
cabinets to his exceiiency there follows the name
and title Of the ocia but the regular price on &C
You decide to Confirm the rsquIstton on this basis
address Of export agent Of New-York City. at
which point all export business Is attended to-"
On April Is. 1900. followed letter from the ex-
port agent. nom which the following extract IS
II am pleased TO acknowledge your order for the
No = filing cabinet, the regular price Of which
count being per cent, I note that in your letter
you stated that the price was SO This must have
payment for this order would be made? You are
without doubt personally familiar with the inevta
BILE demand that the American manufacturers make
with order in the of business with for
eigners who are unknown to them, and We are
not all familiar with the terms upon which this
gentleman wishes to pay for the order. we would
be greatly obliged II you would tell us just what
might reasonably expect In this connection
Could you not persuade him 70 pay cash with order
to establish documentary credit here. that
he could take advantage OF the cash discount. and
The S0G reaned awaiting your rthsr
Of course; did rot ask nor try to persuade this
vance establish documentary credit IN
America for the sum Of SOS so After CONSULTATION
without showing this huiatine letter.. TIE writer
addressed the following letter (lay II, 1900 to the
export agent:
'Sr: I have the honor 70 acknowledge your let
ter of the 18th ult Should you desire to sell
OF your No. filing bnets to his excellency
name and tie) for the price stated, $50, would
have to ship same immediately; payable on pres
entation of shipping documents"
And on June Is, 1905. the following was received
from the export agent:
Dear Sir: Replying to yours Of the nth, the
factory has decided to forward the No - fling
cabinet TO the party referred TO- on the terms YOU
mentioned. and the shipment will be made soon"
The cabinet was not shipped until July "A, arriv-
ing at destination August 1S-just five months after
date of order-and trailing with II a batch Of
papers telling the following financial tale;