New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-27
THE, GREAT WASTE IN
SLIPSHOD SHOPPING
How the Careless Shopper Wastes Her Own
Time and Other Peoples Money by
Her Disorganized Procedure.

receives IT, Its duplicate check goes INTO d
set Of pigeonholes like those in country
postoffice Then il is sorted and checked
again and securely packed according 10
destination. After this ii Is placed on
big rack and then lifted by elevator TO the
sidewalk. where il is slipped into an auto
mobile truck. Armed with his {. O. ID.
sheet. the driver presents the package Al
the door Of the careless shopper III sne
refuses to receive IT, almost as many
hands are required 10 put II back INTO
stock. All this means time and money
for which the careful as well as the care
less shopper eventually pays.
Even the shopper who really means to
buy sometimes unwittingly makes her
task hard. Patiently she goes about
among the shops, looking for just the
gown she needs-and she finds It. oh,
but I'm not prepared to try It on to-day
she saws OF course, i can't pay deposit
on il when / don't know whether II VIII
fit Next day she returns; the gown u
gone. She has not only wasted her time. but
the chances are she will find nothing quite
az suitable as the vanished gown. II u
always the most desirable garment Is
we'll as the biggest fish that Is lost.
There is a strange superstition among
women shoppers that they must never
take the first thing offered them. Shoes
form the single ready-to-wear euepuon
10 this rule. Realizing this, the expert
enced clerk never offers customer the
most becoming hat or coat at first. she
keens II for the second or third bid for
approval, and while, for conscience sake, "
ia sometimes we'll to look through tho
stock OF several stores when one has tne
time the really open-minded shopper Ia
wise enough TO take the thing that SUITS
her whenever she finds It. She should
never begin a shopping tour unless she -
in the frame OF mind 10 buy. The clerks
are quick 10 single out the woman who IL
only looking and she naturally receives
corresponding service.
sometimes this amounts 20 positive
incivility. and the careless customer hast
ems 10 the Office Of the superintendent 10
complain. No matter what the outcome
the incident is annoying. A letter written
next day would secure the same results
with less nervous strain. Any actual
rudeness on the part OF Gales peopis
should be reported for the protection or
the public. but the fair-mnded woman.
after her first Irritation has passed. II
usually able 10 see that the fault Is large
~ her own.
"a salesgirl who has waited upon
hundred customers, at least ten OF whom
have been difficult is likely 10 be rather
weary at the end OF the day. 1t is in
that last trying hour, between and =.
that most Of the complaints are made.
But ton minutes with really irritable
customer will take all the spirit ont OF tho
girl for the rest of the day. no matter
when the encounter occurs. 1t is good
idea therefore To shop i'm tho morning
while the clerks are fresh and before the
afternoon rush begins. A rainy day -
also a golden opportunity for the woman
who is not afraid to wear storm coat.
THE wise shopper gives herself plenty
Of time The suburban customer VINO
PUSHES into a store ten minutes before nor
train leaves and stands first on ono foot
and then on another while the package IL
be,ng made ready for her is Responsible
not only for the mistakes in her own pur-
chase. but I'm that Of the shopper who FOL
lows her. to he waited upon by the su1
nervous saleswoman.