The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-07-07
SOME OF THE REASONS.

A few days ago friend of ye editor,
and very estimable gentleman whom
we hold in high esteem, called up this
office over the telephone and as a
gentle protest against this paper con-
stantly advocating buy at home
spirit mentioned that he had priced
a certain article at the stores in town
and found the ruling quotations to be
Sc, and mail order catalogue quoted
the same article for almost a third
less. Even with the addition of a lib
eral express charge leaving the for
eign price at least a dollar less than
the local figures. We were asked to
account for this discrepancy, and
where we would buy under the cir
Icumstances. Over the telephone we
could not we'll discuss the matter of
ence in price should exist, but to ans
wer how we would act under the cir
Icumstances was easy. AS generally
we are forced to have things charg-
| ed. we would naturally buy at home.
and we would do SO anyhow even If
that hardly imaginable condition
should exist Of having the cash on
hand. Somehow we cannot get over the
habit of supporting home establish
ments, even If there are Instances
where home establishments do not al
ways support US. We Go this because
we believe in it honestly and firmly.
Also because the home business house
pays taxes in the town and county,
and we know of no mail order house
that pays dollar toward the support
of the town or county, although they
take thousands of dollars out of both
town and county. Because when there
are any call for popular subscriptions
to make local improvements, carry on
public entertainments, to help civic
betterments, to respond to the call Of
charity, we touch the local merchant,
who responds cheerfully. We have
never heard of case where mail Or
der houses ever contributed a nickle
toward anything OF this nature in
Oroville, or any other town in the
land. Try them once and see how
quickly and coldly you will be turned
down.
Since that conversation we have
learned something about a mali order
house with branch in Seattle, that
enables us to tell our friend how 1t IL
that the mail order institution can in
many instances undersell the country
merchant. 1t is not a new discovery
by any means, but is an old story
that has the freshness of coming di-
rectly from headquarters. This infor-
living on the coast who was recently
in town, and thar friend received his
information directly from an acQuain-
tance holding responsible position
with the Seattle mail order establish
ment. In the first place, and fact too
we'll known for comment, the mail Or
der house sells only for cash. No Or
der is filled without the equivalent in
hard coin. There is no intricate book
keeping, no bad hills, no expense of
delivery, no time and money lost try
ing to collect. The mail order houses
does not buy from wholesalers II buys
directly from the manufa 3turer, gen.
orally taking the entire output OF some
certain article in public d mand, thus
securing prices that even the whole
saler cannot approach. During the first
six months of this year the Seattle
branch made sales to the amount OF
81, ,500,0 900, while the Chicago house in
the same period cleaned up $40,000,O 900
and this is no exaggeration. Why not?
Every post office in the country sends
a steady golden stream into the cof-
fers of the house, and millions of buy
ers means millions in money. Is it
possible for any country store to COM
pete with such monopolistic monstros-
tiles? Is it safe for the country to build
/ up such powerful and financially
bloated institutions to the elimination
Of the country merchant? Every man
has the inaienable right to buy or sell
where he pleases, but will 1t pay. just
for the saving of few cents?