New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-07

counts were closed. Some of them re-
turned two-thirds, and some almost all
Of their purchases. Drastic measures,
| admit. but this is an evil which must
be abated. These women wrote US hor-
rible letters, all alike. NO one has
ever and so forth, and 4 shall never
enter your store again, nor will any of
my friends Ladylike boycott, and
they say awful things about US, and
why their account with US has ceased"
Legitimate Reasons for Returns.
But the shops do not want, on the
whole, 70 do away with the practice Of
sending home on approval, for it has in
it many advantages for the merchant
and for the shopper. Ever so many
reasons are good and legitimate for
the sending home of articles and then
returning them. II ones husband does
not like that particular garment, then
one has good reason. If one wants
to send two or three for choice. that
is another good reason. Perhaps con-
ditions have made it impossible to keep
the article, and innumerable other
causes are valid excuses. The shop is.
in this case, merely taking the shop TO
the home, sending out samples, taking
an equal chance, and entering it under
the head Of personal service" The
shopkeeper wants to be accommodating.
broad and liberia! in his return practice.
for it pays. But the abuse of the Gus
tom, growing daily, is becoming a men,
ace. Something soon will have to be
done, for it is economically bad, when
abused
Practice Hurts Sales Girls.
1t reduces the wages of the sales
girl when she gives her time vainly to
Improbable patrons, because her
wages are based on a general average
Of her sales and returns. 1t raises the
expense Of running the store and in
creases the overhead expenses. Thus,
each time that a woman returns an
article she is raising its price for her
self and for the women who can less
afford an increase. Little does she
know that she becomes soon known as
a shopper" the woman who is a pest,
and at whose approach all sales people
Ay.
Returns Underwear After Two Years.
1t is difficult to believe that a woman
will return set of underwear two
years after purchase and then rail in
surprise when her demand for credit
is steadfastly refused, but more than
one instance of this sort has been
cited. And women return something
that has been worn for year and
then protest that il has not given good
service. at is that dominant desire 20
get something for nothing, and they
are naively candid in their pursuit Of
this chimera."
But the woman who sends some
thing home on appreciation, be IL IN
derstood. approves of it sufficiently TO
err wear it, or TO decorate her
boudoir with il for an entertainment.
What punishment is severe enough for
her? Shall she be rolled down the hill
in a nail-studded hogshead? Shall she
be forced TO empty the pond with
sieve? In fairy tale days something
nice would have been done TO her as a
good lesson. But now she goes on IN
punished, for snopkeepers must be
tactful.
Mr. Something Other, Of a well
known shop. writes 10 her, saying that
he should like 70 discuss a matter OF
Importance with ner. When she comes
he shows her the blouse. and says she
has worn il. and very tactfully points
to unmistaka5ie signs Of wear. She
accepts her defeat, but withdraws
Faithfully, after the way Of villains.
Or he shows her the wrap. Mrs.
, my buyer seems to think that
this garment has been worn" Mrs.
is a very profitable patron, and
must be treated judiciously.
How Dare You, Sir.
"Sir. how dare you tell me that |
have worn it," Mr.. Something-or-
other has seen her wear it at the
opera last evening. and the collar is
stained But he accepts defeat. "Of
course, il you say IT has not been
worn'- She smiles benefcently and
starts 20 withdraw, but he calls and
tons her "You have forgotten your
gloves and kerchief.' Left in the
booklet Of the wrap. But she goes out,