Evening times-Republican., 1914-02-18
RETAIL HARDWARE DEALERS SAY
SYSTEM DOES NOT sENE.
FIT THEM.
SMALL SHIPMENTS MAKE
MORE EXPENSE FOR JossERs
Handling Orders Twice Increases Cost
and Forces Higher Wholesale Prices
Mail Order Problem Discussed and
Merchants Advised to Keep Special
Stocks For Comparison.


eel post when used for the delivery OF
manufactured articles in small lots. has
a come back that eventually Will cost
the consumer more than the saving in
transportation charges, is the belief OF
many hardware men attending the six
teeth annual convention of the Iowa
Retail Hardware Association at the
coliseum. The question as to the ad-
vantages OF parcel post in the hard
ware trade was brought up before the
opening session of the convention yes
terday.
Before the parcel post was estab-
lished, retailers purchased small ar
ticles i'll larger quantities. Recently.
however. they have been in the habit
of ordering from manufacturers one or
two articles at time, to be sent by
mail. The cost of transportation is
less than by express.
Makes Trouble For Jobbers.
Altho the proposition looks feasible.
the trouble arises at the factories and
jobbing houses. according to repre-
sentatives of big wholesale and manu-
featuring concerns present at the meet
ing.
s. r. Miles, formerly president of the
Iowa Retail Hardware Association. and
now representing large saw manu-
featuring concern of Indianapolis. ex-
pla!nued the situation to the conven-
ton, and said that the additional, cost
OF taking care Of the small shipments
threatens TO add TO the cost of manu-
tactured products.
The condition that we have been
confronted with since the establish
ment Of the parcel post is attracting no
small amount of consideration on the
part OF manufacturers and jobbers of
the country, especially those who pro-
duce and handle small articles" SAID
Mr.. Miles. In our case. we have no.
ticed a greatly increased business in
small shipments Dealers who former
y ordered large consignments Of saws
now send US frequent orders for small
er shipments. This causes much extra
work in our shipping rooms and in our
clerical departments.
Causes Greater Expense.
"One man can prepare for shipment
twelve dozen saws almost as quickly as
he can one or two saws for shipment by
parcel post. Our bookkeepers are re-
qusred to make many small entries
where only one was necessary for the
large shipments. The condition is true
in all factories that manufacture ar
t!cles small enough to be sent by parcel
post.
The question arises as to whether
the increased cost to the factory in this
-t-s-I =
manufacturers TO add to the cost Of
production. The manufacturers are
keeping close track Of this additional
burden Of expense. Some one will have
consumer. There is q question as to
the goods under the parcel post system
will overbalance the saving thru the
cheaper form of transportation.
The manufacturers are not opposed
to parcel post. This is merely a condi-
ton that we will have to meet and
work Out TO the best advantage Of all
concerned"
Discuss Mail Order Problem.
Ways and means for meeting mail
order competition were discussed dur
ton. 1t is probable that the association
will adopt resolutions concerning the
question.
c. T. Gadd Of Des Moines. the presi-
dent of the association. declared in his
annual address that the retail merchant
is paying too much for his merchan-
disc. He attributed the high prices of
today 10 too much personal friendship
in buying and listless way Of hand
ling business. L. c. Abbott Of Marshall
town. urged the members of the associ-
ton TO combat the mail order business
by laying in stock of mailorder goods
for comparison with the higher grades
Of goods carried in their regular stock.
His experience, he said. was that the
buyer always preferred the higher
grades in preference to the mail order
goods.