The San Francisco call., 1909-07-30
MINDS MADEJJP
BEFORE BUYING
Women Insist They Know
What They Want When
They Do Not Heed
Salesman
By MARY AsHE MILLER

mind, at least not until she has
changed it half dozen times. 1t is
one of the theories of mankind.
Interviews show. however, that
women are equally certain that they
have their minds made up positively
at least on the question of what they
want
The discussion arises out of the ex-
preston of ideas gained for recent
number of The Call as to whether shop
keepers and statesmen and women
should agree or disagree with their
customers.
Two talesmen in the Calhoun case
disagreed pointedly on this matter re-
Gently, one declaring that opposition
was the means of fostering interest in
customer, while another said that
his method was to acquiesce in all
things. ~
Other men who sell things said that
the former might do very well as he
had only men as customers, but women
you must agree with "even unto sew
enty times seven
So the women were asked about it.
Then the one peculiar fact was devel-
oped that women might vary as widely
as the poles in all other particulars,
but in each instance they said: "Oh,
always have my mind pretty well made
up when l go into shop as to just
what 1 want and 1 don't really care
what is said to me-
This statement men receive with the
indulgent contempt they so often ac-
cord TO women's views.
1t may be said with all safety, how
ever, that women are not pleased with
opposition to their ideas as to articles
chased
The salesman who insists that some
thing else is more serviceable or more
becoming or more economical, or the
saleswoman who displays a certain
veiled scorn of the decision of the fem
mime shopper, is apt to receive a
casual. annihilating stare or curt
reminder that no comments are neces-
sary.
Still there must be a golden mean.
The purveyor of wares who agrees
with fulsome alacrity or, as is the
case with many misguided saleswomen
addresses the woman buying as
"dearie" and beams effusive approval
of everything,-is is regarded by the more
critical a offensive and is avoided.
Mrs. Sterling P. Adams, the wife of
Captain Adams, U. S. A, said: Il gem
orally know just what 1 want, but
often ask the opinion of the sales
woman if. it is something about which
1 am not exactly sure. They are apt
to know a great deal more about many
things that they sell than I do. 1
like them to be fair and square in
their answers though, and not agree
with me just. for the sake of agree
ment. 1 want them to tell me what
they really think, whether it altogether
agrees with my preconeeived ideas or
not do think, however. that the per-
son who is pleasant and agreeable is
much more successful than the one
he or she is selling you or who is
cross or disobliging."
Mrs. Eleanor Martin is one who does
not care one way or the other. 'I
think she said, that it is rather a
general principle and one to which 1
have never given much thought.
always consider whether I like a thing
or not. If it is not suitable, l don't
want it. When 1 go to buy anything,
as linen for instance, l know for what
1 want that linen, whether it is to be
coarse or fine, and no one could tell
me anything about it. The necessity
of the occasion determines what 1 buy.
/ am not a shopper, however. / wish
l never had to go into shop again."
Mrs. Harry Nathaniel Gray said: "A
1ILle OppOSlllOu Is lnleTSStl1R-DuJ-
the end I always buy what 1 first in
tended to. I am not changed by COM
ments and / generally have my mind
made up when l go into the shop. I
am slow to make up my mind and gem
orally give the matter a good deal of
thought, but I don't change after I
once reach decision. l am by no
means a fiippant shopper.
Mrs. Malcolm Henry is another who
knows her own ideas.
Il don't think very much about the
clerks, to tell the truth she said. Il
generally have my ideas before 1 go
in and the statesmen or saleswomen are
really like part of the furnishings of
the store If they are slow they irri-
tate me, but what any one says affects
me very little. Nothing much is worth
arguing about any way L try to get
what / know 1 want but If 1 can't
get that / take the next best thing.
believe that San Francisco is as good
as any place in the world to shop and
;ol1 1rf1