Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-03-23
Distribution BIG.
PROBLEM FACED BY.
BUILDER Of AUTOS.
TO MAKE EQUITABLE APPOP-
TlONMENT OF CARS AMONG
DEALERS, is THE AIM OF MAN
UFACTuRER, SAYS DOOC &
BROTHERS. SUPERVISOR OF
DISTRICTS.

There isn't an auto dealer in ana
cr less trouble in obtaining delivery
0f cars. after he had made sales. a
resume OF This situation by an author
ity in distribution may help to ale
giaie their own troubles. A. +, Bar
Der, supervisor OF districts Tor Dodge
Brothers. in letter to Dodge dealers
gives his eompany's phase Of the sit
uation He says:
In an organization Of thousands 81
aggressive dealers, al clamoring for
more cars ana all perfectly honest in
the belief that nobody can De farther
behind in deliveries than they, nor
closer to the danger Of wholesale can
celia ions, II is quite obvious that the
distribution problem must be one OF
10 Slight proportions.
Not only does it require constant
study of sales conditions, crop COndi
lions, weather and every one Of tie
other countless factors shat control
he automobile market in every re
mote and metropolitan section Of tn"
United States, bat il calls into use
he accumulated know ledge of well
organized statistical department de-
voted exclusively to the compilation
OF facts and figures which must be
considered in making shipments 10
dealers. This statistical department
can give Us on moment $ notice the
eGtimated purchasing power oil any
territory in the country. II can tell
as precisely the number OF untitled
orders in any territory, the number
ol cars the territory has already alb
Sorbed and can quickly check the re-
tail orders to- confirm the dealers re-
ported need OF cars In other words,
we have reliable facts and figures
which must either subs autate or re-
irto our judgment OF any dealers re-.
qurements
While we consider that our first
obligation is to the public, and there
fore try TO distribute cars on a basis
somewhat prUportionate with The de-
mand created by a dealer. We must
also keep in mind other important
considerations. One OF the most vital
is our policy OF helping the dealer
maintain reasonable rate Of profit
Unavoidable circumstances may have
tended 10 reduce it ana we regard
1t as our fair duty to Increase his ship
ments rropOrtionately with his loss
We always give careful consideration
10 the needs Of our associate dealers
The associate is just as much mem
Der OF our organization as tAe direct
dealer and it is our intention to see
mat he is treated as fairly.
Another factor which every motor
car manufacturer must consider il
the division OF dealers into groups
representing those who are wholly de
pendent Oh a certain car for the main
tehdnce OF their business. those who
are partially dependent, and those
VINO are wholly independent Bv The
later / refer 10 those smaller dealer
VINO are chiefly employed In some
other line OF business.
1T IS pleasure 10 sag that. deepit,
the overwhelming demand on them
from persons who have deno,iteu
money and are waiting Tor carr. onl
dealers in general appreciate our sit
uation ana try to help rather than
hamper us in our efforts to make ;
thoroughly equitable distribution
This is characteristic Of Dodge Broth
ers' organization. | am confident That
the same responsiveness will assert
itself il the present freight car short
age makes it necessary 20 resort I,
driye-aWavs on u larger scale. It i,
possible that we may have to reu,es
you TO make your own deliveries 70,
an indefinite length OF time. and /
we DO. | know every dealer within
driving distance will he quick an.
eager to respond"