The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-08-23
Can MAT. ORDER HOUSES
SELL DEPENDABLE MER-
CHADISE CHEAPER THAN
THE HOME MERCHANTS?
BY o. A. CHARLES.

question as to whether or not mail
order houses can sell dependable mer.
chandise cheaper than home mer.
chants we must first see where the
mail order house gets the goods they
offer for sale.
In reading the catalogues Of the
principal mail order houses we find
that these houses claim they manu-.
facture a large percentage of the
goods they sell. Now, then, to be
able to sell these goods so much
cheaper than the home merchant it
would be necessary for the mail order
house to manufacture these goods
chaper than the manufacturer who
produces merchandise for the home
merchant.
Is 1t reasonable to suppose that the
factories owned and controlled by the
mail order houses are any more pro-
fcient in the making of merchandise
than are the independent factories OF
the country? Isn't 1t true, rather, that
a manufacturing concern which is
managed by the men directly and
napcially interested in the success
Of the factory will have better man.
agement than the factory that Is man
aged by an overseer or foreman, who
Is NOT IN any way financially interest
ed, but who is working merely for sal.
ary? Isn't the man with his capital
as well as his salary, depending on
the success of his facory, keeDer and
more industrious in producing the
product that he is manufacturing than
man who is merely foreman of a
factory?
The economic history OF our coun-
try proves that the concerns making
the best goods at the most reasonable
prices are the independent or indt
vidual manufacturers. The reason for
this is that the man who has risked
his capital as well as his time and
labor is more vitally Interested, con-
Bequently works harder and thinks
harder to make his project success.
Another phase of manufacturing
goods which enters into this argument
is this: the mail order house is forced
TO produce merchandise to sell at a
low price. The independent or indi-
vidual manufacturer makes goods not
10 sell for a certain price, but to pro-
duce certain results. Then isn't 1t
fact that the concern manufacturing
goods to sell at low price Is going
to use the cheapest material, the
cheapest labor, and to turn out the
cheapest product in order to be able
20 sell the goods at the low price?
On the other hand, isn't 1t equally
true that the manufacturing concern
making goods that must produce Ger.
tain results Is going to use the best
material and the most skilled labor
to make merchandise that will pro.
duce the required results, knowing
that II they can not do this they can
not get a fair price for their product?
In other words the mail order houses
have to manufacture goods to sell at
very low price-really made to sell,
while the goods sold by the home
merchants are manufactured to give
service.
Now in order to sell merchandise
90 much cheaper than local mer.
chants, the mall order house must
buy cheaper as well as manufacture
FIRST grade goods Just as cheaply as
facturers all make different grades OF
goods.
II is impossible not to make mis-.
takes in construction. Manufacturers
can not afford to throw away the Inn
perfect work nor can they destroy an
article that may have been acciden-
tally marred In the making, but con-
scientious houses are honest In these
matters. The progress Of construc-
tion Is watched with care each imper.
fection of material or workmanship Is
carefully noticed; the result Is differ.
ent grades of goods-ilrsts, seconds
and thirds.
When the local merchant buys, he
knows his goods must be sold before
the eyes and in the presence of the
purchaser. That every article and
every part of II must be subject to
carful personal Inspections; not only
this, but 1t goes to a regular custom
er who resides In the immediate vi.
cinity OF the merchant, and the goods
must stand the test of actual use.
The home merchant whose business
depends on pleasing his customers
dare not buy any but the first grade
OF goods for which he, OF course, must
pay the price OF firstgrade goods.
Much different Is It with the cata
logue house. Because they sell their
merchandise by printed pictures and
descriptions. and the weak stick can
be painted and polished as well as a
strong one. Printed pictures and
eloquent language do not reveal the
weak places.
When the article is sold by the mail
order house II does not go to Gus
tomer with whom the catalogue house
is In almost daily contact nor is It
subject to the test OF use in sight OF
the store where II was purchased; on
the contrary, the picture on the print.