The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-05
MERCHANTS TRUST TO PAY WITHIN 8 WEEKS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
 AND RETAILERS
Effort Being Made to Ad- just Difference About
 Sale of Appliances
SHARP COMPETITION

Formation of a joint committee which will strive to foster tm- proved relationships between pub | lie utilities and retailers of gas | and electric appliances was an- nounced to-day by the Connecticut Electric Lighting Association and the Connecticut Gas Association. This joint group, to be known as the Connecticut Merchandising committee, will confer with the Connecticut Hardware Association, the Connecticut Master Plumbers association and various other retail groups for the purpose of develop Ing a code of principles with re- spect to the sale of gas and elec- tric appliances which will be acc ceptable to all concerned and which will place merchandising by the utilities and dealers on more agreeable basis than heretofore.
 Representing the utilities on this committee will be Samuel Fergu- son, president of the Hartford Electric Light company; H. R. Sterrett, vice-president and general manager of the New Haven Gas Light company; R. H. Knowlton. vice-president of the Connecticut Light and Power company; and E. E. Eysenbach, president of the Hartford Gas company.
 The proposed merchandising principles have been developed as an application of the national principles of the National Electric Light association and the Ameri- can Gas association to Connecticut conditions. They set forth primar- fly that the distribution of gas and electric appliances should be on the basis of fair and open competi- tion in the interest of the public, the utilities, the appliance manu- lecturers and all merchandising outlets.
 Among the principles which the utilities agree to observe in the sale of appliances in order that competition between themselves and other retail dealers may be more equitable are the following:
 ''No applianc or merchandise not directly related to the use of gas or electricity should be sold by gas or electric utilities.
 "Coordinated advertising of ap. proved appliances should be de- veloped by gas and electric com panies and local dealers; the gas or electric company should give all reasonable assistance possible to the dealer in advertising, displays and sales assistance.
 "The utility company should moi contract for the exclusive sale oi any appliance.
 "Utility companies are opposed to the granting of employe dis. count on appliances to anyone other than those who are bona fide employees, and should do all in their power to prevent abuses oi this privilege.
 "Utility companies desire that qualified dealers should have the same opportunity as their own pective users of gas or electricity on main extensions. Utility companies should make available currently tc dealers a record of proposed or authorized extensions, 50 that deal. CTS may have knowledge of them at the same time as the utility company's sa1esmen."
 DUH uehAoES AHu Iu0 uSAhIicbI under the code, would agree that all gas appliances offered for sale should bear the seal of approval of the American Gas Association Testing Laboratory; and that all electric appliances should be stand ard appliances. Other proposed joint principles concern premiums and trade.in allowances, promo tional activities with new or as yet little used appliances, the deferred payment in merchandising, install. ment sales, adherence to the prin. ciples by salesmen and employees relations with manufacturers oi appliances and installation of ap. pliances.
 Assurances have been received by the joint merchandising com. mittee that the principles in gen. eral are moist acceptable to the hardware. and plumbers associa- tons. which indicates probable adoption by appliance dealers will be greatly benefited and that better relations will be developed in the retail field of appliance merchandising.