Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-13
PLACES THE BLAME
UPON THE BUYER
Herbert 7. Shannon Criti'
cises Demand for Cheap
ness by Homeseekers.

Directing attention to the "noticea-
BILE depreciation of quality" In some
houses now being constructed. Her
bert T. Shannon Of Shannon Luchs.
in an interview today. placed the
blame for this condition on the buyer.
who is ''clamoring for promiscuous
price-cutting" and who gains only
"cheapness."
"a multiplicity Of new conditions
confronts the buyer OF any article
now" said Mr.. Shannon. THE Ameri-
can with his easy dollar is rapidly
passing out of existence. He Is forced
by these new conditions to become a
thoughtful buyer and to analyze his
purchases. No longer can he either
delay his buying until the last mo-
ment, nor can he afford to purchase
haphazard, without due regard to
quality. Our production methods are
not normal. A general survey of the
situation reveals either an over
production of goods and materia! OF
a cheapened class that are assembled
carelessly, with what seems to be
sole idea Of getting it finished for
an existing demand or an ansol 1it {,
goods and the carefully assembled
articles
clared, that we have had price lnna.
! ton, but 1t is even more serious tnat
we should at the same time nave =,
noticeable depreciation of quality.
He said that the inability on the
| mart of the producer to finance ano
the insistent demand on the part OF
the public for cut prices IS RESPONSE
BILE very largely for this condition
Cheap Construction No Economy.
"1n no one of the necessities is
CHEAP material more expensive !.
the long run than in homes; ne WI,
lon Throughout. the who1 ghara the
There is a home shortage. Wnere tHs
liowering Of quality is most felt IN Tine I
situation. the basis Of the faule ii e.
lin the inability of the producer ~
borrow the requisite amount 70 JUL
land still preserve Quallty. In S.s
those extremely is oo,,a,eien easeS money
;strone to do his own financing does
this not apply. us.- IN.
tends to produce a property similar u
lone in which. in the past: ne mas III
lsistently main Int ands s q ats the amour
|of the loan he can obtain Is SO smal
THAT II necessitates one OF two Things
first. using an abnormal amount o
Ibis own money in the operation. o.
building on scale which e the ssaut thu
latter way, the buyer Of the finishes
lnroduct gains only cheapness WnlI
the public is clamoring for promlscu
tous price cutting, it is the builoeI
natural tendency to cut the proouce =
, inject the situation.
!, Demand Price Cutting.
. II was declared by this realtor tina
! this method is observed not aione !
houses. but in articles OF ciotntnt
; automobiles and other necessiue
, iAssumfng these conditions to be iact
he pointed out the primary caus'
. aside from the inability. to mans
! adequately. is very largely the iau
Z of the buyers demand for price cu'
ting, regardless OF the feasiolilty
such a move. .,
i :.We hold that it would be well &c
, tthe nubIic to give more considerable
} TO the actual value of what they pu
flor their money, instead OF assumin
that a reduction in price is cure
a for the present situation. saio M
, iShannon. "A careful investigatlo
5 among buyers will reveal a tenoenS
to purchase cheap articles. out NJ:
= analysis of such purchase as TO y
! lasting quality will reveal tnat sue
He predicted That in time Z. Ut
American will realize the "a
i1acv of buying cheapness and WI
, tiearn to spend his dollars intel
!, Gently. because that. in substanc
liz the proper analysis of the nations
I slogan thrift AS people tnrnt
. Ito MS something very new. me M
: cessity for it has never before pee
q as great as now. and IN the iutue
I'm our existence, but a permanent
nna"