The Cairo bulletin., 1913-02-07
CAIRO RETAILERS
OPPOSE TRADING
STAMP SCHEMES
Association Conservative But Firm
in Resisting Invasion Detri-
mental to Public.
ADDS TO THE COST OF LIVING
-Four Per Cent. Additional to Regular
Pr.ce Of Goods Must Be Added
By Merchant.
ADDS TO THE COST OF LIVING

The Cairo Retain Merchants aRsn.
tiatien In session assembled last
night was conservative III It's opno-
sition to tho Trading Stamp scheme
which has Invaded Cairo to the al
legged detriment OF the customer ana
the retail trade in genera
This trading stamp proposition
was the general subject under dis
cnssion and 1t was the general senti-
ment of al the members that when
once the patrons OF establishments
offering the stamp as a trading in
ducement, learned that in the end
the cost OF the stamps rea " were
paid for by the customer. the scheme
would become extinct
No radical measures were propos-
ed to meet competition OF this char
aeter. rs many Of the members stat
ed that II never before had failed to
dies a natural death as sequence
OF acquaintance on the part oil the
customers OIL establishments uti-
lyzing the scheme TO induce cash
trade.
mo doubt. when once the public
demand a do lar In real value for
every dol ar expended. the mer-
chants now parties to the scheme
will abandon 1t and trade viii be
conducted along legitimate lines as
-he e.neesare,.., eaid ono Of the members
in summing up tho matter
Il was further disclosed during
the discussion that the cost OF the
stamps added four percent to the
cost OF the goods, which must b.
paid either by the consumer By rais-
ing the selling price OF the goods, Or
else the merchant stand the loss in-
cured
Relative to the matter. the follow
ing communication from the presi-
dent OF the Retai' Merchants Asso
citation OF linois with headquarters
at Chicago. was lead aud given 70
The Bulletin FOR publication in con.
nection with the proceedings OF the
meeting:
Chicago, Jan. 27, 1913.
Cairo Retail Merchants Association.
Cairo. Ill
Dear Sir. Your letter OF the 25th
inst. at hand and contents noted. Am
sorry to hear that you are threat
ened with a trading stamp invasion
in Cairo. This is one or the worst
trade abuses ever conceived by men
and some OF our merihants have
ia len for it through the ane
pictures these tongue artists employ
ed by the Trading Stamp Companies
can paint. Cairo is to be eongratu~
lated for having been able 10 keep
Trading Stamps out all these years.
Regarding the cure for which yoii
seek. the best one ! kaow OF is to
throw them out,l tYou have already
taken very IMPORTANT stat, h4..sesfa
ting The merchants to Diedge them
selves not 10 put them in. Those
merchants already signed up by the
stamp company can refuse TO handle
them II they are since.e in wishing
10 get out from unaHr a bad bargain.
II Is very unlikely that the s. anl,
II. %. rs We cali them here would
take any legal action against saiG
merchants. but might make a strong
bluff
In esg they use different form,
OF contract in Cairo than they gen
eraiiy do. you wi find there is no
provision in its as TO the amount OF
stamps a subscriber must but. II only
provides Tor the amount said sub
scri0er must pay per thousand Tor
their stamps
Another way is open to yoa II
your merchants must have trading
stamps get a stamp OF your own
thereby saving about So percent for
stamps which are neye- redeemed
and which the Trading Stamp c..
get as clear profit
make This last suggestion for,
what it is worth II has been tried
successfully in other places. but bet
ter no stamps at all
Some OF our merchants at times
have fallen for them. thinking there
by to increase their business. no.
stopping TO think that their competi-
tor would adopt some kind OF simi
lar proposition in order to hold his
trade.
II your oeal papers are TREND y
towards the Retail Merchants you
have one OF the best weapons With
which 10 fight this evil. Get then
isoas 'adsd q 5saTsI Fs1k