New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
Whether the Lure Is WindowBait or Pct
ures, the Procedure Is the Same, Though
the Profits Vary, Upward-Try to
Take Advantage of Their Offers
and They VIII Take Ad-
vantage of You
By SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS

is a vain 1t vain in this of store
The shoppers pod along comparing the strange specimens OF
ehaYs tables china and the like with the glow
ing newspaper advertisement with prices attached which one OF
them The comparison Intellectual 1t usually in this
type Presently they to buffet which they recos
from the the advertisement No doubt about IT.
every essential detail Every essential detail but
one that s-the price The advertised price is $3.50 The
price demanded by the salesman is $50
But here's the picture protests of the shoppers This
is the buffet It's priced $3.50 And ask $50 for
it. How can you do that?
His inspired with all the cynlcism or trade
which is built upon the false hopes of dupes.
The picture2 What do care about the pictured aint
selling you the picture. I'm selling you the buffet
That is of those flashes from within transaction which
eliminates whole system of trade 1t sets forth the vital prin
cpe of the crooked furniture nsament houses which
the pco They're selling unitre pcIres The bargains
offered those aung illustrations do exist They OF the
bait wndowbait which employs the great show
windows of careless or corrupt journalism for its display
Both of bait for the buying public the window display
and the wider lure of attractive pictures and prices in print are
employed by Pse Co., who do nstament trade at 5Oth
St and Sd Avenue One advantage Ito Pers OF shopping at
Psers the accommodating exby Of the prices Nothing
rigid about Piser system The of the furniture
and down while you wait-Eke elevator With advertise
ment the Bronx Home News and guide not
csy friend the Tribune shoppers visited the Piser emporium
in search of massive bed (duy iuated for $o98. The
first query of the salesman who forward to meet
not the Of prospective purchase but rather
to the manner He wanted know whether intended to
cash wished account Pending decision he person
ally conducted along line of beds until reached one which
faint generic resemblance to the picture in the Bronx
Home News-he thing it, at least in We
asked the price Consulting tag the salesman said that
s49S but for cash he would S. and Also though he
didn't specify this the usual process of subacton and make
it $1,000
Now I'll tell you what I'll do for you" he offered with
intensive cultivation Of the objective pronoun I'll throw in
$500 $500 and give you big reduction the
springs. too, if you'll take the lot for cash
rs that the you do? inquired the prospective
chaser "A friend of from Hoboken here and she
said you gave her big reductions.
Sure. We always do. What's her name2
Mrs Munce'
Il know her. sold her the goods This interesting,
true because Mrs Munce had been manufactured for the
occasion of thin air and the moments inspiration.
Even with the backing of the imaginary lady from Hoboken
however the price of the advertised 5000 stuck
$1,000. That is. until one of us asked casually:
Wasn't there something the Home News about 1928
bedp"
. That's right I'll show it to you
OFF he started looking back his shoulder indicate
that follow him. We neglected take the hint In
stead stood pat Our salesman made the grand of the
circle occasionally pausng make bluff looking price
tag and eventually bringing front of us-and the bed just
priced at $4,000
Here we arer' he exclaimed with gallant effort the
Eureka tone That's the oneI
AT s6.o8p"
Correct The best buy in the house.
- Having thus selected bed under forced pressure
were returned the of the mattress only to find that
had been hit with appalling suddenness by the high cost OF
living At fell stroke the vaung price of that mattress had
oereaped itself by fifty cent and had become $780, Not
wishing article Of such chamoiske propense
we contened ourselves with purchasing the bed for which
paid So 90 cash. asking for bill Of sale.
Did we get We did Instead got appropriate
ly pink slip of paper acknowledging that Pse
Co. had received $698 from without further specification
Ih, left up the decide whether would send that
bed another bed, a washsand pair of curtains, woolly
rocking horse.
They elected to send the bed And they could we'll afford
TO- When arrived and compared 10 leisure with the
massive illustration in the Home News the result
the picture below.
Our purchase rnassive-lke pin Otherwise it
only asking price ASSOC which, must be remem-
beYeJ wa. the price demanded for the bed until the ruthless
.basers pinned the Hung salesman down the advertisement
there would have been supeproht OF nearly 900 AS