The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-05-24

soon as possible.
Henry Wallace.
THE REASON WHY THEY DO 1T.
One of the principal subjects con-
sidered at the meeting of the Iowa
Retailers Association at Sioux City
last week, was, how is the home
dealer to hold his own against the
catalogue house. Daily this question
is coming closer and pressing harder
upon the home merchant. We do not
know that we can add anything new
to the fund of knowledge already be-
fore the public. but we may be able
to make it clear to people why so
many send to these houses for the
things they could do as we'll or even
better at home. One word explains
it all: Bargains!"
1t is the Unborn love of bargain
that constantly induces people to
search their catalogues and buy their
SOOQS away 4lOIl llOlIlSs
Two cases have come under our
notice lately that bring out this point
clearly. The other day gentleman
sent to Chicago for some goods, among
which was a clothes line that cost
him so cents. He felt so good over
his purchase that he went about the
neighborhood and told of it until he
met lady who went to her closet
and produced better line which she
had purchased of home merchant
for as cents. Of course that stopped
him on the clothes line story, but we
will bet that he isn't cured of the
catalogue habit.
The other case was this. A gentle
man wanted new mattress, and as
was his custom consulted his faithful
catalogue. He found one listed very
cheap, and described about as fol-
lows No. tick, overlaid on both
sides with heavy layer of cotton.
We call particular attention to the
necessity of having good tick on a
mattress, and if you want one that
will give you good satisfaction, be
sure it has layer of cotton over the
excelsior. You will make no mistake
in taking advantage of this bargain. y
Now what did our friend get? He
got mattress covered with No.
ticking, but unfortunately for him,
the manufactures of ticking mark
their poorest ticking No. l, and il
he had searched the country over he
could not have found poorer piece Of
ticking than covered his mattress,
but it was true to name. The cottor
batting was one thin layer mattres.
as whole was so poor that no home
dealer could sell it at any price.
Now why did these people buy o:
the catalogue house? Simply becaus.
they were hunting for bargains ant
these houses make almost every thing
as bargains. If not so stated, read
ing of the description is so worded
that one is lead to believe in is /:
bargain.
Again these houses pick out SOM
particular article and make a speci-
atty of it, but the item while OF
common use, is one the freight woul
probably spoil the bargain in, so yo
are induced to take few additions
items in order to help bear the ex
pense; thus you send a good size
order in order to take advantage O
the supposed bargain. The mails ar
loaded day after day and week afte
week with supposed bargain announce
ments; these are taken into the home
and perused as regularly as the dali
papers. The postage alone on tn
advertising matter received at tn
Manson postoffice from these house
exceed in cost, all the advertiser
done by any one merchant in Manson
Again here and there they have
r man who for small prize is cor
2 stantly working for these houses
talking for them and advertising the
poor points. We call to mind jul
, now, man who a few years ae
t was so poor that he had to almost be
for food for his family, and w;
n wholly dependent on our merchan
e for credit to get the necessaries {
h life. Today he has got little sta
and is sending all his cash to Chicae
n and is doing his best to get others
e do the same. He has forgotten tho
v who carried him in his hour of nee
], and now for a paltry prize is doir
r everything in his power to ruin Their
t There is an old saying that the w;
t to fight the devil is with fire, al
; if local merchants wish to beat the
IS people, they must reach the Peep
; and convince them that it is to the
d interest to trade with them, and tn
i can t do this by spending few dc
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