The Washington herald., 1908-08-24
FROM WOMANS
POINT OF VIEW

There e a woman who is probably con
graduating herself upon driving a shrewd
bargain with q frst-cIass business house
But when she attempts 20 make another
purchase az the place she viii meet the
uncomfortable experience OF learning THAI
her patronage is not wanted. as she has
been listed with the undesirable custom
ers
Six months ago she selected a dress
skirt and had It altered 10 her measure.
but before the date Of the final fitting ar
rived she was taken III and the skirt was
laid aside 20 await her convenience. No
notice Of her Illness was sent 10 the store
and all chance 20 sell the article 10 some
body else was gone when she appeared
at the end % SIX months I believe she
had the skirt altered several times. I
know that she wore out the patience Of
the filter before she decided that she
wanted something little later IN style
There was no kind Of law that could
compel a business firm 10 take back a
garment after such a performance. but
the manager OF the place happened to be
unusually sensible. and he rea soned that
il would be better 10 lose & few dollars
and send the woman home in q satisfied
frame OF mind rather than stand on his
rights and have the woman abuse the
place and its methods 20 the outside world
But he never meant 20 be the victim OF
a second experience with the same
woman. so instructions were quietly is.
sued and hereafter there will be found at
that store plenty Of courtesy. but nothing
that could possibly fl her. Her name
has not only been crossed Of the credit
list, but she IS marked for future avoid
ance.
Business Of all kinds is dependent on
public patronage. but the loss CT a single
customer IS not missed We should re-
member that when We are tempted 10
assume a high and mighty attitude with
people Who are doing their best. The
amount Of harm one disgrunted person
may work is worth considering. however.
and dealers have TO remember that when
handling such persons. The praise of a
satisfied patron IS a good advertisement
and damaging testimony has a way OF
spreading doubt over large area.
have IN mind the experience Of a
woman who was trying a new milliner.
simply because she saw q hat she liked
displayed in the window She wanted a
small change made in Il and while she
waited she saw the owner Of the place
sell a hat TO an unsophisticated Irish
girl and take il TO her forewoman with
instructions 10 remove the flowers and
select duplicates from a box OF second
hand foliage The girl paid for fresh
flowers and the witness TO the tranSsC-
ton was so disgusted that she counter
manded her own order and told the story
everywhere
The miiliner began 10 find her place
going down from lack Of patronage. and
somebody who knew the reason advised
her 20 sell out. ostensiSly. and conduct
the business under new name which
she did. with something Of her old sue
cess. One woman had ruined the bust
ness. and there are scores Of instances
where an unwillingness to exchange
articles or refund money to dissatisfied
patrons has been followed By disastrous
results. It is necessary to spend money
TO make more and the method Of spending
makes some difference in the profits
Note the places where money IS cheer
fully refunded and see how women hOck
to them They may never want TO use
the privilege. but there is a kind OF pleas
ure In knowing it IS theirs for the ask
ing I an one OF the number who be-
lieve in patroniZing shops where fairness
rules, and an unusual degree OF gene
rosity should be rewarded accordingly.
BETTY BRADEEN