New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-25
Re.re.re.return of Goods
MakesAllGoOds Cost More
Continued from Page 10


l;r the official organ of National Retail Dygoods Assoca
ton which, though mild should prove an effective deterrent o.
syyeaes The Bulletins proposal that each store MAKE m
Of customers who the privilege and when
pon has been reached write to the offender coueousy
ing that so large proportion OF returns would seem TO
her lack OF satisfaction in the stores goods or "
;,no whore the fault and what be done to remedy IT,
Ono big merchant Los Angeles has tested this system by @
phoning instead of writing and reports that ne eeno
usually well received and that his return troubles ana cNp
have notably decreased .,,. ,u; for nub
AS rule merchants tmd about taking lol pup
LEGATION on this subject of Each feels that ne admits
heavy proportion OF returns the public may a''rI9u " - ~
t I the store policy Also he fears lest he offend customers
and drive away trade refreshing exception IS the hr "
Oppenheim Collins & Co, for which Mr. ~ Levy the P'
We are out to fight this returned goods abuse to hnlsh
said Mr. Levy to Tribune Bureau representative In cveano
and other cities where have there arc ways oil Proe
INC The trade against INSCRIPTIONS shoppers But here IN view
York there isn't any effective operation on inns important
'c AVERAGE percensge of merchandise returned IN all
dcnar,ments 1870 GO of goods out OF our stock
all This smaller than in many stores because we tho
practice of sending merchandise approval except IN s
cs cases. nvaidsm and so forth will venture 10 say I.
no other store talks customers as straight ana pam
m we do on this subject We tell them up and down that no
matter how sound their credit they can buy goods mere un
they buy them o keep.
~ We have suffered as every suffers from damage to
goods sent out and returned particularly the delicate fapfc
in which we specialize Often nd customers seiec. ed
disc and home just to be copied by seanse ms
specially of chldrens garments lrouoe| vi course "
have trouble. ,...uu ,,;h tho
ood Is there's any good and sufficient tor dissatisfaction
the part of the customer she an get neI money "J nd
without trouble discussion. We want SUCH goooS reG"e
But change mind isn't good and sufficient reason Tor an
exchange of goods purchased :, ,
Mr. evy has the OF his CONVICTIONS e closes some
odd every three months because the return sde
of the record shows growing percentage over 'ne p t
If other merchants outstanding the abuse OF he
privilege would never have reached its present Mr.
Levy added while he hearty sympathy with me io
uncs advertising principles and campaign ne housh thd m
Advisor unttngy encouraged shoppers to make unjust claims
n,t the stores Merchants he said often buied by
TONERS who threatened them with IN The tribune unless
oftc quit unfounded
For ourselves" said he we will adjust threats
Vel adjust on basis of play, and other basis
I, - unouesionaby and unfortunately that few shop
rs have used the Tribune publicity to further unjust
claims The threat only They have used he tribune
baue Tribune publicity be mpoyed for such purpose
Complaints that get Tribune print receive careful nVes
% in which the store has every opportunity present its
SIDE The merchant who permits himself to be budozed INTO
unfair adjustment because the customer says you uon
settle I'll The tribune submitting TO species o.
backma lie only cowardy; he also stupidity ignorant
OF standards principles and practice his cause good
he has nothing fear from this paper whether or not ne an
advertiser columns. II he be nbune advertiser this
paper will itself settle with the complainant on the basis OF IT'S
satisfaction money back guarantee But tins commits the
merchant 10 nothing the settling unfair claims Under
il, guarantee The Tribune has the made good claims
which knew be unfair; and has pointed out plainly to the
both commercially and ehicay justified in refusing to settle
is true that advertising campaign this has considered
first rights of the buying public That because tor years
the public has had against unfair treatment by
chants and has been subjected abuses But over
above the of the public and the interests of the store
stands third and dominant considerations fair play The
nbune advertising campaign first to last and all the time tor
In this there a direct application the returned goods
problem Frequently these columns stores have been crit
refusing make fair adjustments Now, The rbune
stands ready to aid in fight against the returned goods evil by
publishing onspcuousy the and addresses of Cor
men) who habtuay abuse the good faith of merchants this
manner with such details merchants themselves will supply
And the merchants reluctant afraid then The nbune
proposes possible and the facts for itself there
soey needed and highly unpleasant publicity in prospect
considerable number OF OF them prominent
locally who have been vctmzng the merchants OF this city
Various communities and organizations have taken meas
urcs combat the approval The Bos
Chamber OF Commerce suggests plan whereby SIX days shall
be the limit Of return the goods be returned the original
used and must have been bought with the
special privilege OF returning sgnihed by special tag exceptions
being allowed Of the OF the store mer
chandise which defective of dependable quality
81 Louis puts three-day limit retunabe merchandise
with approval sales permitted everything except millinery and
furniture.
Cleveland allows business days with warning that
patrons making demands will be reported the
merchants organization a hint Of backlisng.
Denver pactses the most radical and stringent quaihca-
Neither appovas permitted unless the
goods accompanied by sales other representative