The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-11-19
The Mail Order Fad.

The following article on the advant
age of trading with local merchants
and the duty in connection thereto
which every citizen owes to his home
community, recently appeared in the
Machias Union. The subject is of
such Importance and the observations
of the Union contain so much truth
that the REPORTER is pleased to re-
produce them for the consideration
its readers.
a good citizen will spend as much
money as he possibly can in the
town i'll which he is employed and
makes his livelihood. 1t is no more
than fair.
The idea that you can buy much
better material from distant points is
fallacious one and not only should it
be condemned by all fair minded peo-
pie but each and every one should
make it point to get posted regard
ing the methods of those doing bust
ness under the title of mail order
houses.
Is it reasonable to suppose that a
house in Chicago can get out elabor-
ate catalogs, of the vast number of
different articles it carries in stock,
paying an enormous sum for the
maintenance of an efficient corps of
shippers at enormous salaries-some
of them, the catalog itself costing thou
sands of dollars before it is sent out to
those who are susceptible to the mail
order bait postage prepaid on two or
M
ask you in all seriousness if it is rea-
sell to you any article very much
cheaper than your home merchant?
We will admit. these houses do a
very large volume of business. Even
so, is it reasonable to suppose the
difference between large purchases
and smaller ones can vary to such an
extent that a wholesale house in Chi
cago can sell at one half the price of
your own merchant goods of the same
quality? We ask you i'll all serious
ness, is it reasonable to suppose they
can. We feel sure your good com
mon sense will tell you it is not pro-
bable.
Why, then, do you persist in send
ing to distant states for a great por
ton of your necessities? The mer
chant in your own town has a right to
be considered in this matter. If you
have little cash to spare take it to
your local merchant, where it belongs
and rest assured of one thing you will
get just as much for your money as
you will if you ship it to Chicago and
take chance on getting what you
want. Very many people get fooled
every year chasing the mail order
rainbow. Many who read this article
have been badly stung, no doubt.
By the way, did you ever know one
OF these mail order conce rms who
would trust you for a suit of clothes
or a barrel of -four in the good old
winter time? We are inclined to
think not. Do you not think, then
that your local merchant would be
justified in putting up the credit bars
TO those who insisted on getting their
credit of him and sending their
money to those of whom you know
nothing and who knows nothing of
you and cares less-it's your money
they are after, and you may rest as
sured you would eat snow balls this
winter if you looked to them for as
sistance
Think this matter over, good peo
pie. Let the idea soak in, and If you
do not see the reasonableness of the
argument there must be something
wrong with the argument. Buy of
your local merchant. Help him and
you will thereby help yourself and
your town and be a credit 10 the
community.