The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-10-28
HOME BUYING IS
NOT ENCOURAGED
Honolulu Resident" Points Out
Where Local Merchants Charge
More in Small-Priced Goods.

Editor Advertiser:-In view of the
approaching mass meeting called to dis
cuss home buying ] should like to pre-
sent just few facts that forced them.
selves upon my notice, during a year
recent residence on the mainland. As
am not public speaker | turn to
the columns of The Advertiser rather
than to the public meeting, for the
presentation of my few suggestions.
These suggestions, moreover, are given
in spirit of helpful, and not hostile,
criticism.
My first question is this: Why should
Honolulu merchants sell the things
of small value, the one cent,
two cent, five cent, ten cent
and fifteen cent articles, at such
relative profti On the mainland, |
could obtain many articles for the small
sum of one or two cents, for which
pay FIVE cents in Honolulu. For fifteen
cents, for instance, | could purchase, in
| some instances, articles that are com
monty sold here for twenty-five cents
and even more. There are numerous
'Fifteen-cent Storesp in California
cities, and these stores sell all the small
necessaries" of housekeeping for
much less than one pays here. And
the "small profit on small things pol
icy is not confined to the "Fifteen-cent
Storesh; the large establishments,
dealing for the most part in higher
priced goods, sell their emotions at
the same low price.
Let me give few concrete instances.
Exactly the same kind of lead-pencil
for which / have paid five cents in Ho-
uolulu stores, | obtained for two cents
on the mainland. Then take the mat
ter of postcards Everyone buys scenic
postcards, Christmas cards, etc. In
California these postals retail universal
ly at one cent each, or at the rate of
ten cents dozen. Christmas cards, ex
actly similar to some that / had pre-
viously purchased in Honolulu at the
rate of twenty-five cents, and in one
instance, fifty cents a dozen, ! bought
in California cities at the rate of ten
: cents dozen. This price applies both
to scenic and to Christmas cards. Why
should these cards cost ten cents a
dozen in California and twenty-five
cents dozen heref
Again, one-cent pieces are in almost
as common use on the mainland as are
fve-cent pieces in Honolulu, and one
pays for any article exactly the stated
selling price to a cent. In a California
store, i am not compelled to pay FIVE
cents, if | wish only twe.cent piece
, of ribbon; / pay two cents, and two
cents only. 1t is the custom in the
Honolulu stores, if one buys half yard
of cloth, or ribbon that is sold for
: twenty five cents yard, to charge if
, teen cents for the haIfyard. On the
mainland, ! pay twelve instead of fif-
teen cents; at the most, / pay thirteen
cents a yard.
One more point, and ] will close
Honolulu prices for standard goods
vary in different stores (although in
{ this respect there has been a decided
change for the better during the past
few years.. As an, instance, at the re
: cent opening of the schools for the Fal
e term, pencils and pencil cases were
q much in evidence in our store windows
A box that sold for twenty-five cents
/ in one store was marked thirty-fvt
S cents in another store. This is but on,
n instance of many.
To recapitulate, things of "smal
value' are very often sold in Honolulu
e stores at too high a relative price. II
: the course of a year. the amount o.
=, money thus lost to the small house
u holder is considerable. And what ap
d plies to "small things is, in man,
s instances, applicable to higher-price'
articles. / have, however, purposel,
!, confined these remarks to articles cost
q ing few cents.
n I heartily believe that we should bu,
in the "home stores. Anything tina
have said in the way of criticism o
y "home prices' is given in helpful
e spirit, and with the wish that som
J. good reason may be given by our loca
), merchants for an apparent over.prof
in "small things Yours sincerely,
g A HONOLULU RESIDENT.