The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-10
Retailers Tell How Prices Can Be Reduced From , to 10 Per Cent by Careful Marketing
EXPENSIVE TRUCKS AND MESSENGERS
 ARE MAINTAINED
A Systematic Method of Or dering Would Facilitate Matter and Help to Re- duce Prices

In the campaign to reduce the high cost of living in Bir- mingham, one item, which would work toward a great saving in the family bank ac- count has been overlooked by the housewives, according to retail grocers and suppllers of foods of all kinds.
 The women of Birmingham could, they say, save anywhere from 3 to 10 per cent on the monthly grocery and meat bill by calling for their small groceries at the store, or even by using a systematic method when ordering daily supplies.
 The question of delivery is the most expensive item with which the retail mer- chants have to contend they say Ana this delivery question is made much more expensive by the negligence of the house. wife who fails to complete her entire order for the day before giving it to the grocer. This negligence on the part or the housewife, necessitates the employing by the retail grocers of special messen- gers, who frequently follow right in the trail of the delivery wagon to deliver a s-cent cake of yeast or a 5-cent bar of soap.
 VIEWS OF RETAIL GROCERS
 The Age-Herald, in connection with the campaign, which it is conducting to re- duce the high cost of living, has had in- terviews with a number of retail gro- cers on this subject, and while they vary in the per cent of saving promised, they all agree that there would be a noticeable saving if the housewives would cooperate with them in solving the delivery ques- tion
 J. l.. Daniels of Shropshire & Daniels says he will promise saving of pei cent, and maybe 10, to the women who trade with him if they will lend their aid in this matter.
 y wagons we have it is necessary for us te keep three special messengers" said MT Daniels 'Frequently no sooner has the delivery wagon started for Mountain Ter race or some remote section than phone call comes in from some one in that dis trict saying that she neglected to order a bar of soap, and she needs it right fo lroo har and her trade, we are obliged to send a special messenger out with the soap. And so long as this custom is being practiced by the grocers, we have to do our part.
 NEED WOMEN'S COOPERATION
 However, if the women would co-op- crate with us in this matter, we would be able to save them from to 10 per cent on their monthly grocery bills In addition to the services of three special messengers, it keeps three clerks pretty busy answering the phone to take special orders.
 'It seems to me that it would be a very simple proposition for the housewife to make out her order early in the morn
 ing, and have it ready when we call her or when she calls us. If such were the case, we would be able to cut off big slice from our delivery expense and our expense in the store, and I promise the women who trade with me that they would reap the benefit therefrom.'' J. B. Roberts of Orr & Roberts does not have as much trouble with the special messengers as the neghborhood grocer he says However he does say that with the cooperation of the women in solving the delivery question, he would be able to cut his delivery expense in half and would of course, be in position to give quite little saving to his customers We cover all parts of Birmingham. " said Mr. Roberts. ITO do this it is neces- sary to keep truck and three wagons. If the women would cooperate with us by carrying small packages with them, and by completing their orders before phon- ing them in, we would be able to make a good saving for them
 ITEM OF EXTRA EXPENSE You would think perhaps that with a !