The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-29
WILL Get FARES.
This Is a New Inducement to
Out of Town Shoppers.
Topeka Rebate Association Is
Now an Assured Fact.
NJ MERCHANTS IN LINE.
There Will Be IS of Them to
Abide by Agreement.
Final Details to Be Worked Out
Within a Few Days.
MERCHANTS IN LINE

| The Topeka Rebate association is now
an accomplished fact. The contract of
membership provides that when thirty
separate business houses shall hav.,
signed this contract it becomes binding
ana effective and this part of the con-
tract has been fulfilled.
| Ire Rebate association was organized
ny Topeka merchants for the purpose of
increasing the trade of this eity. and Of
emerging the trade radius by refundinp
the car fare of out-of-town shopDars
inc plan will go into effect early in
August All fares of purchasers in stores
Bank of Topeka.
II Is estimated that the normal ol1t-of-
town trade of cities of the Topeka class
ranges from per cent to Il pei. cent of
the total within twenty-five miles, I'M
der normal conditions. The remaining
80 per cent to 90 per cent is supplied
Dy country stores and mail order houses
by paying the car fare of the nonresi-
dent customers the normal trade is in
creased to as high as 80 per cent of the
total within twenty-five miles, depend
ing upon transportation facilities local
price attractions, and advantages of
large merchandising, possible only in
large centers of population
The theory of the rebate system is
that the membership shall be so varied
that all human wants may be supplied
from among the members, and so large
tnat all representative stores are open
to the choice of the shopper. The larger
the mem berShip, the smaller the cost
not only of maintenance. but of the per-
centoSe of the individual members. I'm
der the system adopted by the Topeka
merchants fares will be paid from any
point on earth if the shopper only spends
money enough. The percentagA is based
on the total trade of each shopper and
not upon the trade with any particular
merchant. The cost taxed against the
members by the rebate bank is based
on the actual trade received by each.
No trade, no dues, is the rule While the
larger merchants pay the largest indi-
vidUal pro rata dues, the aggregate paid
by the smaller dealers is surprisingly
large. The average cost of trade thu
drawn to Topeka will run slightly in ex-
cess of 2 per cent. The maximum cost
is guarded by a protection rule of per
cent Practically all preliminary details
have been completed. The membership
list will be closed up by Wednesday or
Thursday. A meeting of all the mem
hers will then be called for the election
of n board of directors and officers. The
board will decide the date upon which
the payment of rebates will begin. 1t
is said the total membership will be
about seventy-five. The following bust
ness houses have become members of
the association to date: August Cloth
ing Co.. Bell Bros Piano Co.. I. M
Bntz, Inc Coushnn hardware Co
Crane & Co., The Crockett Mercantile
Co., Crosby Bros Co., The Warren M.
Crosby Co.. w. F. Culver, Drechscl
Shoe Co.. The Eagle Electric Co., The
Emahizer-Spielman Furniture Co, The
Fair Mercantile Co. Felix & Sons. D. H.
Forbes. s. Freidherg. James B. Hayden.
Heron & Middaugh. c. M. Hill, E. w.
Hughes. ]. K. Jones Paint Co, H. L.
Barsh & Co, Charles McClintock. Me-
chinists Electric Co., The Matthews
Auto & Supply Co, The Mills Dry Goods
Co. New Era Department store. The
Palace Clothing Co. Paxton & Paxton,
Pavnc's Shoe store. Remly Lumber Co.,
Robinson. Marshall & Co. ]. E. Rodman,
J. D. Sullivan, Frank W. Swearingen, To-
Deka Trunk Mandatory. Warner d
Potter Western Vehicle & Supply Co.,
A. p Whiting Plant & Glass Co, J. c.
Wolcott George A. Wood, l. S. Wool
verton Drug Co, Oscar G. Woolverton.
Tho Zanditon Co.