The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-08
MERCHANTS URGE
ECONOMY PLANS
Suggest Elimination Of Deliv-
cries as One Big Item OF
Expense.
CONTINUED from First PageJ

Continued from flrst faseJ
Jumper" or delivery boy, had nine
chances instead OF one of losing them
when he went to the door to denver
them.
Would Help shopper, Too.
Had the woman gotten a purchase
card sho could have gone about her
shopping by reaching into her pocket
book but once that is, at the END OF
her tour, and then all OF her sales
would have been recorded on one slip,
wrapped into ono package, and paid
for In q single operation,
Commended by Mr.. Andrews for taxi
ing up the item OF delivery saving
among the other details OF a house,
hold economy program TO De outhheo
this afternoon.
Field. In Chicago; Glmbel Brothers,
In New York; and John Wanamakers =,
in Philadelphia, had showed that ~
cost n fraction more than cents 10
deliver each parcel. An,
cries of packages of small amounts,
say rs cents. that the cost OF delivery
runs mighty high" MIR. Andrews said.
These stores reported that thousands
or packages each week bought Tor 20
ConIn OF ltbN WtTt
mo easier way could be found to
cut n fraction from high prices than
n movement on the part OF consumers
to nx n minimum OF 20 cents Tor par
cells to be delivered. That amount,
even, IL low; the ideal would be 81 or
more. But IL would serve for n start,
and would entail no hardship on any
one"
Conference Of store Mes.
Department store managers re-
ported that the delivery situation Is
now a subject OF study In all big
cities, and 80 pressing has IL become
that n big conference OF department
store men 20 consider solely the sub
ject OF delivery has been called In
New York for January $, Q. and 10.
One owner OF a big department
store has written th officials OF this
conference:
MY own idea II that retailers
should make a charge when a pack.
age In delivered. II II legitimate
expense which should be borne by the
Individual to whom the service u
rendered and not laid as tax ON the
many people who take their pack
ages with them. In other words, ~
IN a matter which should be handled
In the same way as charges for al
terations."
Department store men said they
were greatly interested In the efforts
OF the Housekeepcrs Alliance espe
cially In regard To delivery, the sup
preston OF the sent on approval
nuisance, and the practice OF return
ing goods.
volume OF Deliveries.
How great is the volume OF deliver
les In shown by exact figures OBJ
tained from one OF washington's bis
department stores.
On December I this store delivered
4.33o packages: December 4, I,1op,
December Q. Asa: December q, 4,l.2
These figures do not include freight
express or parcel post deliveries.
The total deliveries for December OF
last year. OF this store, were 12I,1i2
No record was kept OF the values oi
the packages delivered. but In
chance assortment OF purchases this
morning majority were found tc
be so cents or less, and nearly two
thirds OF a size which could readii,
be carried.
|. Many Employees
Heavy expense II entailed In main
tenance OF such n delivery system
For example. the employees salary list
alone includes forty drivers. hfty.five
Jumpers" twenty assorters and
sheet writers, forty toy and china
ware packers, forty.two transfer and
parcel post men. and ten collectors,
or assembly men, a totsl OF 207 en-
ployes.
by a campaign to place a reason
able limit on the purchase price OF
articles that will be delivered. this
number OF employees, IL " estimated
not to mention equipment, could be
cut down by half.
Taking the figure a cent lower "a
represent the delivery cost OF each
parcel than Mr.. Andrews estimate
aud placing IL at q cents, the custom
ers OF this store pay n daily tax OF
$40 for the delivery privilege, and
last December spent $500 for this.
Up % Consumer.
mo one merchant could begin tc
restrict delivery without facing ruin
Of his business" Mr.. Andrews said
Neither can the movement come
from the merchants themselves
They are willing to give this servic,
IL the consumers wish a.
"But n the consumers realize thai
q saving here may be effected which
Val not work hardship to them. Their
they would ind the merchants willing
to cooperate, and consumer and deal
er would be the gamers