New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-05-14
THANK YOU TRADE
ATTHEDRUG Store
Costly Service Without Profit
Given in Many Cases

One more customer had Just
purchased bottle OF paregoric for
baby's collie.
I'm bet you think you've got the
finest job in the world" said the re-
porter ordering up a second choco-
late soda which he let the druggist
pay for.
We'll, It's not so bad. but we get
a lot of funny customers replied the
druggist putting his cigarette case
back into his pocket and closing up
the cigar box before the reporter
had time to reach across the
counter.
"Wadda' ye-mean, funny custom
ers. this is cash business and 1t
looks like big profits?'
Say. listen TO me, young man.
Maybe this looks like ready money
10 YOU scribcs, but I've got accounts
on nv books, and I'm supposed to
he running a cash business. that I'll
never be able to liquidate."
We'll, anyhow, you make enough
profit on what you sell to make up
for a two ounce bottle of medicine.
Yes, just think Of it. put up
IS cent bottle of medicine last night
for a man who called me out of bed
70 I'LL it for him. The order came
in by telephone and I paid a taxi
driver so cents to deliver it. That's
profit, isn't it,
Gee. l always thought drug
business was just that much velvet
Yes" dryly commented the drug
sist after he had wrapped up tooth
brush for woman who wanted to
catch car in a hurry and gave him
4 $50 bill ont of which he took Is
cents.
The Thank You Customer
Don't you know" he continued.
that one of the largest retail drug
houses in Chicago recently stated
that 40 per cent. almost half, OF the
druggists customers were of the
thank you type"
What kind are they
"The kind that take your time,
i've YOUR service. and pay nothing
for it,"
TELL me about some.
Hang around and watch what
happens"
A few minutes later an expensive
sedan rolled up and stopped in front
of the drug store. A middle aged
woman hurried in. seemingly IN
great haste. Can / have some
writing paper please, I'm in an
awful hurry and forgot to send
note to my mother telling her we
would drive over to see her next
Monday
"Why. certainly" smilingly the
druggist. thinking he had made
sale, got several boxes of expensive
high grade, perfumed writing paper
from oft the shelves.
"Oh, just want one sheet. Just
enough for note"
The druggist continued TO smile'
but the smile seemed to have lost It's
enthusiasm. He whisked another
box from under the counter and re-
moved a sheet of white paper.
'Thank you. now ihuSi 10 49,
zone cent will do"
The woman opened hand bag.
took out a small purse. closed the
hand bag, opened the small purse
took out Il SO bill and gave IT TO
the druggist, opened her hand bag
and put back the purse. Later re-
peating the performance when the
druggist returned with 1922.
I'LL wonder il could borrow a
pen or pencil, my fountain pen
won't work."
Again the obliging druggist came
to the rescue and the customer was
escorted to his office. where she was
permitted to use his private desk
blotters, ink. pen and anything she
needed. Hastily scribbling a nofe,
she returned to the front of the drug
store and interrupted the sale OF a
box Of chocolates to another Gus
toner to purchase an envelope LOT
which she paid two cents. she re-
turned to the desk. addressed the
envelope, came out. purchased wv"
cent stamp, repeated that she was
in a hurry and departed after leav-
ing the letter with the druggist with
the request please ask one OF your
clerks to drop this in the box Tor
me"
The druggist was left with a sweet
smile as a reward as the Limousine
drove off. Emerging from his daze'
the reporter demanded: do you
get that kind very often"
That's Just a sample of what we
get every day" said the druggist.
calling one OF his clerks over.
Bill, this newspaperman thinks all
our customers are paying. cash Gus
toners. Tell him his mistake
Return ''Bridgc" Prizes
The story told by the clerk Was
enough to wiring tears from the
yolk of hard boiled egg.
zone OF our frequent sources OF
irritation. by both men and women |
Is the winner of the prize at bridge
the night before. They play cards
win the prize and come in here the
next day and ask us to give them |
credit on their account for the value !
Of the prize We take the prize, !
they get the credit and wo'vo lost a |
sale, We thought We had made the
day before. Yes, the n,.r are as
bad as the women. We "yon had |!
a fellow bring in a carton Of cigar
cites the other day and ask for the !
price in exchange for them.
''Then we have people bring in |
goods they say they have decided |
not to keep. which never We're pur
chased in this store. They swear
they bought them from us. even !
point out the clerk who made the
sale. We examine the goods and
find the trade mark of Il competitor
on the package.
Sometimes they buy goods ana
damage thrri. Then bring them
back and say the article was no
good. One woman recently bought |
a rubber hot water bottle The |