The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-12-20
BUYING AT HOME.
Some Facts for the Consideration Of
Reformer Readers.

One of the biggest mail order houses
In the United States has been indicted
by the grand jury in western state
for fraudulent use Of the mails, Inc
evidence presented 10 the grand jury
tended TO show that the merchandise
delivered by this concern was not as
represented in the advertising matter
and as both advertising matter and
merchandise are sent through the mails
an attempt will be made 10 prevent
such use of the mails.
This seems 10 be along the line or
square deal. The Rcformer wastes no
unnecessary sympathy ON those persons
who attempt to get something Tor
nothing and in return get nothing Tor
something; but IL is certainly dishon.
est to sell goods by description and
not deliver the goods described, and
the government should not only have
no part in it, but should not permit II.
The mail order houses flourish and
make enormous profits through the
ercdulity of the buying public. A con.
eern which has made specially OF
premiums with goods and which re-
Gently exhibited in Brattleboro has
published lists of testimonials among
which is found the following from a
BrattlcbOrO woman:
"Aeeept my thanks for the prompt.
ness with which you shipped my last
order. Your goods cannot be equalled. ~
This was written by woman whose
husband is dependent for his living
upon the sale of merchandise in this
! town. We cannot believe that she
fully realizes the obligation which
rests upon her and upon all others TO
buy al home. If all those persons
who now buy the goods which her
I husband sells were TO pursue the same
course in buying in Chicago or Buffalo,
her husband would have to find some
other job and probably have to move
to some other town. II is not fair to
the merchants of Brattleboro nor TO
ourselves not to look this thing in the
! face.
The further consideration Of the
subject leads to the inquiry, How much
is saved by this method Of buyingl 1t
would be impossible TO answer this
question without collecting statistics
covering a large number of cases and
long period of time. So far as can
be ascertaincd, however, from a fair
Judgment of various isolated cases,
the economy of buying away from
home is a doubtful one. So far from
saving the average buyer usually pays
a higher price than he would at home
for the same quality, gets more mer.
chandise than he wants for the sake
of low price, has the disadvantage
Of not seeing what he has bought till
it is paid for. and of not being able TO
return it if not right. A mail order
house will not (for it cannot) sell you
$40 worth of merchandise and give
you so premium for $40. If it pre-
tends TO do this, you should have no
doubt it is not dealing squarely. You
may be deceived as TO the value of
the premium; you may be more easily
deceived as to the quality and value
of the merchandise; your money goes
out of town and helps to pay for labor
elsewhere. No firm can sell goods
without expense. When you buy at
home you pay for the goods and you
help pay the wages of the statesmen,
the rent of the store, the electric light
and fuel bills and the dealers own
living. All these things have to be
paid for out of your money anyway,
whether you buy in San Francisco or
in Brattleboro Would you rather help
pay the wages of the men who live in
San Francisco or of the men who live
in Brattleborol
Every resident of this town or of
any town or city is in duty bound to
support the business interests of that
town as far as possible Even if the
person is independently rich, or is en-.
gagged in a business that does not re.
quire local patronage the obligation is
none the less strong. Whoever is not
willing to forego some fancied gain for
the general good is adding very little
to the town 5 prosperity.