The Meeker herald., 1914-05-02
The Cstalog House W.
The Home Merchant

Since the introduction Of the Parcel
Post system We have noticed that
the country has been filled with cir
culars from catalog houses, urging
patronage from rural communities,
promising much saving in money
and all sorts Of advantages.
We have not thought 1t worth
while to comment on this, believing
that the good sense Of the people
would prevail, but . circular just re-
ceived from . Denver retail grocery
house, which 10 directly addressed to
each person, and in which rates are
quoted and many misleading state
ments made, leads rs to believe that
the time has come when We should
ask ourselves, I'm the interest Of
mutual home interests to carfully
consider this very serious proposition,
before We send money out Of the
country.
We can not blame anyone for wish
ing to save money, but there are
many things to be considered In this
connection, and we should be sure we
are saving, from every standpoint,
before We take action that 10 detri-
mental to home merchants. In the
first place, why not give the home
merchant chance to figure with US
1T 10 quite possible that he can
satisfy US in every way. Again, even
II there 10 little difference In favor
Of catalog house, 10 not the home
dealer entitled to our business, II
conditions are fairly even?
Our merchants live among us, in
vest heavily, pay large taxes, do
their utmost to help farmers dispose
of the produce at highest market
prices, give necessary credit, also
help In many ways that the nature
Of their business does not require
them to, and to the best of our
knowledge, sell 1t reasonable prices.
Does the cstalog merchant do any
Of these? They take our money In
Advance-and In most cases send us
inferior goods with no chance for
return, exchange or the quick, max
Ing good of errors. They cannot take
our produce, extend credit or any
other favors, and IS q matter Of fact,
II the matter was carefully analysed,
we doubt II they can save US any
money. Many claim to be whole
salers, and to sell US goods at the
same price our home dealers pay.
which il an absurd statement. These
people buy (where their standing
will alloy Of it) from the same people
that our merchants does, and cer-
tainly pays - much, II not more.
They must make some profit, else
they could not do business. This
being true Il 1t not possible that our
homo merchant can eel, ~ the same
class Of goods upon the same terms
viz cash In advance-goods deliv-
cred In Denver or elsewhere and sent
us direct by parcel post. Is 1t not
we'll to consider these things? II we
buy away from home, We can easily
drive our merchants at home out Of
business and We all know that would
be deplorable result.
We need our merchants a. much
as they need us-its mutual busi-
ness affair = and there's nothing
mutual between us and the catalog
houses-it's all very much one sided.
We cannot expect to send our cash
away and ask our home merchants
to extend credit and other favors-
they could not afford to do business
under such conditions. Think these
things over carefully and we believe
your verdict will be to spend your
money with your friends, and let
catalog houses and the postal de-
partment severely alone. Let US be
fair with others as we expect others
to be fair with US.
Our merchants are of us and with
US In all things, joining with us in
developing and building up the coun-
try, making 1t possible to live more
comfortably and' probably all the
time. Let US recognize this fact.