Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-26
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IThe Star-Bulletin invites nee and
frank discussion IN this column on al
legitimate subjects OF current interest
Communications are constantly re.
eefyed to which No signature Is at.
tached. This paper vim treat a. con.
fidential signatures TO letters II thu
writer's 30 desire. but cannot give
space to anonymous communications.
A CONSUMER ON HoME.5uYINe
Honolulu. Hawaii, Nov. "a, 1913.
Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Sir. In q recent issue Of YOU
morning contemporary appears an ed
itorial on Cooperation and Home
Buying" IN which the main points al
issue In The present home-baying cam
paign, as seen by the Advertiser, are
briefly set forth. 3 s, 81 20 s.
MAY !. In your columns, advance a
few arguments In reply? IS
In the above editorial II ID statel
that in the long run the Honolular
who buys from the Honolulu mer
chant IL ahead OF the Honolulan who
buys abroad. Now, st ID q condition
and not a theory that confronts us. $
No intelligent Honolulan does ALI
his buying abroad He-or more
probably she buys abroad only such
articles as experience has shown to
be unattainabie or excessively priced
ii Honolulu markets and such a buy.
Il must inevitably In the long run. be
ahead Of one who buys always in Ho.
noiuin. 81 I.
The Advertiser says It Is automatic
that II everyone In Honolulu sent
away for all purchases there would
be no stores In the city. 1t is equally
automatic that IL every merchant In
Honolulu was satisfied with a fair
profit and sold his goods at reason
able prices, no one In Honolulu would
send away for purchases. As for the
axiom" that II all Honolulu people
made all their purchases in Honolulu.
there would be more stores and
greater competition, notice that
even JHCs A0NSf1DCI 1uUOSi AOI Ctdlk1
that there would be any lowering Of
prices, and 30 far there has certainly
been nothing In the attitude of the
merchants ito warrant such an. as.
sumption.
Now IN regard to the advantages Of
ordering BY mail. Il must be assum.
ed that any intelligent purchaser will
take into account such obvious things
as cost sof packing. transportation and
delivery IN comparing local and
mainland prices. It has, perhaps.
been overlooked by many who adyo.
cate local buying that most, II not all,
reputable firms who ship from the
mainland guarantees the safe arrive
OF goods, and willingly and promptly
replace or refund money for any ar
ticle broken or Injured in transit.
Not only this, but the principal mail.
order houses guarantee every article
to give satisfaction and not only offer.
to, but DO, exchange or replace with.
out expense 70 TIE pufchaser any ar.
ticle that for any reason Is not salts
factory There arefin the large cities
from Chicago eastward, many large
firms OF the highest reputation and
reliability who are prepared to give,
careful attention to export orders. In
many instances their prices are
somewhat higher than those Of the
exclusive mail-order houses, but on
the other hand thef usually pay q
consid ersbly aprob oftj0n Of the freight
ON any order amounting to more than
q given sum, usually $500. As for
parcel post business, practically
every firstclass house In the eastern
United States pays postage on all or.
defs amounting to more than $500
and many prepay postage without
reference to the value Of the pur.l
chase. 81
/ am q malihini here of less than
three years standing and during my
residence here have placed many
orders on the mainland, ranging in
amount from 81 to $500. and therefore
may claim to speak from first hand
! know eastern cities and
stores. know the prevailing prices
there, and i know the firms from
whom can order with every assur-
0ltC bAA0b 6a0tA IOCCtNC. 0dku
courteous attention and good value for.
my money. am by no means unique.
In this respect Even In my limited
acquaintance know several other
.malihinis' who are equally familiar
with mainland sources and the advan-
tages of buying from them.
Why should we, to take small In.
stances only. pay $1.25 for pair of
cotton gloves when we can buy exact
" the same thing In New York for
50 cents and receive n by parcel
post, prepaid? Why should we pay
so cents for a pound of white pepper.
when we can buy the same quality
from mail-order house for % cents
and the addition OF II, or even "a
cents. for postagef Why should we
pay 25 cents for 90 quinine tablets
when we can buy 100 tablets on the
mainland for Is cents and have them
mailed to us at an extra expense Of a
few cents? Why should we pay a
local firm SO for a pair Of part wool
blankets when we can buy equal, If
not better, value from New York for