Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-11
BARGAIN
LOVING
NEW YORK
BY FREDERICK j. HAsKTN

Workers will buy almost anything,
be 1t ever so worthless. If they are
only made to believe that they are
getting a bargain. This well known
human weakness accounts for the
large number of prosperous Sec
ond-hand shops throughout the
city, and for the existence of a
widespread, unique business which
actually sells new goods under the
misleading representation that they
are worn or damaged.
On the West side there are nu-
merous private dwellings whose
first floors are given over to the
display of furniture, yet from the
outside you would never guess that
the residents were furniture deal
ers. There is no sign, printed or
otherwise, indicating that such is
the case. The business is carried
on privately with customers who
are reached through small and in
conspicuous advertisements in the
newspapers.
The advertisements usually read
something like this: Going south;
must sacrifice lovely walnut bed
room set, vi, ALI SlNlliS UP my
town house; will sell furniture at
lowest reasonable prices" Again
1t is a Lady going to California
will sell mahogany furniture
cheap" Sometimes it is not furni-
ture that is offered for sale, but
clothes, in which case the adver-
tisements announce the offer of an
actress wardrobe for sale. or the
frocks and furs of a presumably
wealthy woman who for reasons
given is willing to sacrifice her per-
sonal belongings. There is one
man In the neighborhood of Co
lumbia university, moreover, who
has been on the eve of departure
and hence under the necessity of
disposing of his library of rare
books for the past year and a half
AS a matter of fact. however,
none of these gentlemen and ladies
has any intention of leaving town.
They are making entirely too much
money precisely where they are.
They have the public rushing to
their doors and buying goods as
fast as they can be supplied. One
man who lived in an apartment
above one Of these private furni-
ture establishments for several
months, says that the dealer. who
was a woman, often sold $1,000
worth of furniture in day.
Drifted Into the Business.
This woman. according to his
account was a widow who, at the
age of S5, had been left with sew
eral children to support on the
small proceeds of an insurance
policy. She had never been trained
for any kind of work. and she had
not the slightest idea how she and
her family were going to survive.
Fortunately for her, however, a
business friend of her late husband
had some ideas on the subject. lie
was an antique dealer, and he tolu
her that often in attending auction
sales of large estates he had an
opportunity to secure a lot OF goou
hut hopelessly modern furniture at
a yery low price. He coula not
use such stuff himself, he SAID. but
he believed that it could be nan
died at a handsome profit by prl-
vate Individual At any rate, he
suggested luuL BIG NY " -" =
at a sale that was to take place
soon; advertise them as a private
householder and see how the pup
lie responded. -, ,,,;oo
and was amazed at the results Sile
not only sold the furniture sle
bought at the sale, but some Oh ne
own furniture as well. On tn na
first transaction she made $oO0'
After that, she attended sales reg
ularlv and also started visiting inc
large wholesale houses and buylnS
nm odd lots of portiereS and tapes
tries at low prices. she disposed
of these at such a large protlt thal
a new idea occurred to her. why
moi" she thought, buy directN
from the big furniture factories!
Her business was growing SO fapIu-
" that she could no longer tahe
the time to attend auction sales III
distant parts Of the city, and lur-
thermore, she had observed mat
the new, unblemished portleres
described as slightly USED hau
sold TO much better advantage thah
tha really damaged furniture that
came from the auction roCiis'
New secondhand Furniture
"You see, the whole thing IS very
simple" she explained TO her Ten
ant. 1.-THE people who come 10 Duy
these factory goods expect to llllu
them considerably damaged. ANY
furniture which has been used at
IaIl generally is. When they find
the things in perfect condition,
they are taken by surprise and are
easilv convinced that they are get
ting a great bargain. In one Weeh
| I sold three Queen Anne desks
each desk for ten dollars more
than 1t would have cost in certain
large department store
Taking advantage Of the public III
this way is, indeed, so very easy
and profitable that there are now
concerns who are willing to supply
merchandise, on credit basis, to
private individuals who will agree
to advertise and sell it. One Of
these concerns recently advertised
for "home workers" who were later
circularized in the following frank
manner:
IF a man puts an ad In the
paper like those we mention above,
and the people rush to his house
and buy him out just because they
believe he is really selling some of
his personal apparel or furnishings,
and they think they are getting o
wonderful bargain, the party SELL
ling the goods is justified and you
cannot blame him If he is going to
advertise like that right along and
build up a big bank account be