Evening star., 1948-11-17


at an earlier age than ever before.
Since, however, short Of another Bikini type
Of experiment, there seems to be no solution
for removing the source Of the trouble, namely,
Hollywood, the newspapers could at least help
by ignoring and refusing to publish such sor-
did trash as emanates from that particular
hot spot whose only healthy aspect seems
to be the climate. FRANCES K. SMITH
Blames Car Manufacturers
To the Editor Of The Star:
I want to take this time to compliment your
fine publication in giving wide publicity to the
alleged charges of loading new automobiles
with unnecessary accessories by automobile
dealers in the Metropolitan Area; also the al
legged charges in the devaluation of used cars
and as to the reselling of these used cars at
fairly high profits.
I have been member of the automotive in
dustry since the spring of 1909 and still am a
member of that industry, and therefore, am
fully conversant with the overall practices,
some fair and some unfair, prevailing in that
industry.
Up until World War II hit this Nation it
must be understood by the public that in most
instances throughout the Nation new-car deal
ers suffered tremendous losses in the used-car
situation. In fact the deterrent for many to
invest in individual independently owned auto
mobile retail institutions was the fear of even
tual bankruptcy or loss of investment through
the tremendous losses that an independent
automobile dealer had to take in the sale of
used cars that he took in on trade-ins for new
cars. 1t may be found that shortly before
World War II car manufacturers in many in
stances expected the dealer to turn over new
cars at practically cost to the purchaser, and
that the independent retailers were expected
to make their profits on the sale Of loaded
accessories on the automobile.
hold no brief for the type Of dealer who
was reported in The Star as saying that in the
sale Of used cars he was only following the
OPA suggested markup Of 20 per cent, as
believe that view Is a very nimsy one for any
dealer to use.
Unwanted Accessories Added.
What I am primarily interested in is the
buck-passing or the ostrich act by the automo-
bile manufacturers as to the situation of un-
wanted accessories added to the new car In
my opinion, and due to experience, the respon-
sibility rests with the motor car manufacturers
This Is where the pattern was set in the first
instance, educating the dealer to put on added
equipment in the sale of the car to the user,
and unfortunately the user never did know
WLdI WAS commonly KNOWN as 'OTlRlnal equip
ment' on any new automobile.
The practice started in or around 1929, in
stituted by major motor car manufacturers,
starting in with the bumpers as extras, then
the spare tire, continuing on to clocks, heaters,
radios and with lot Of other unnecessary
gadgets, and the public all believing that the
car came originally equipped
What actually took place was where many
thousands and thousands of independent re-
tailers supplied the needed extra equipment, or
many thousands Of jobbers supplied the need
ed extra equipment, this business was all taken
away from both the independent retailer and
the jobber and the monopoly placed with ma
jor motor car manufacturers. Through this
the public was being gouged, and the materials
furnished by the car manufacturers were of q
lower grade material than when produced by
Independent manufacturers and sold by inde-
pendent retailers or jobbers.
When this practice was originally instituted
and followed up to the degree that 1t stands
today, 1t can be said without fear OF contra
diction that car agents had to take the extra
equipment-in most instances, what the car
manufacturer shipped with the new car.
For the past 10 years or more the writer and
more recently this association, have been at
tempting to prove to Government agencies the
Just few months back it will be found that
dealers spokesman in the State of New York
complained about some manufacturers now
shipping cars equipped with trunks and lap
robes that the car dealers were expected to
take. do know that shortly before the war a
spokesman for the dealers from San Antonio,
Tex, stated that popular priced automobile
was being shipped to San Antonio with heaters
installed, and the car dealer spokesman in that
territory wondered what the dealers would do
with heaters in the San Antonio area.
I am sending copy Of this letter to Mr..
Macy of the congressional committee for his
review and attention.
Our principal and main consideration of the
problem is that monopoly has been created,
and this Is the destructive effect of the monop-
oily, In which not alone is the public being in
jured, but many small producers and inde-
pendent retailers who heretofore enjoyed this
type of business are being destroyed, and the
public is getting poorer materials than when
they were supplied by 1.-The independent re-
tailers and producers
GEORGE J. BURGER,
Member, Board of Directors, National Fed
Grafton Of Small Business, Inc.
Another View of Voting
To the Editor Of The Star:
see that you are joining the ranks of those
,uh hau he fort hot o1icih1o