A COMPARISON IN PRICES.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 379, 11 September 1908, Page 2

A COMPARISON IN PRICES.

(TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —For some years past I have been sending spasmodically to Auckland for my goods. My reason for so doing has been, as a ride, that I was overcharged by the local storekeepore, and I fondly imagined I was getting one ahead of them. I have discussed tbe matter with fellow farmers and agreed that it was the right thing to do. There is nothing I bate like being “bad.” A while ago I determined that I would seal and order a supply in, as 1 was delighted with the nicely got up catalogue I had got from luck land. I bad tried almost all, If uot ail the ocher advertising grocers in Auck land, and there had been to say tfie least of it, far from satisfied that it was all it wascracked up to be; but I hid blamed this on tbe Northern Co. I and the wharfinger and the railway people. Well, I sent, and with it the the money, viz , £l5 10s the exao amount of the order, and 10s fur freight, etc. I g.it back goods which with all charges came to £l5 7s Hid and (taka notice) two shillings aud one half pdnny in stamps. Added to ibis there waj a small charge for wharfage at Kawhia, but as he lauueb proprietor paid this I did not add it to amo mt. The order was not completed as 1 sent it, as I bad not sent sufficient to pay the goods omitied and :he freight, railage and wharfage at Onehunga. Oc opening up tbe package both bottle i of Worcester and tomato sauce were broken, and as they were packed carefully between the matches aud starch I found that I only bud seven boxus left out of 12 dozen, and the starch utterly destroyed. I had lost 4/5 plus tbe proportion of charges which would be about 3d or in all 4/8. The currants looked splendid and on my daughter opening them up she drew my attention to them and I ag eed that they were tip-top. Alas! on going down an inch or so, when again Jahe spoke, I found there had been a layer of g)od currants on tbe top and the bulk were a weevitiy evilsmelling mass of rotten currants, filch and stones, utterly unusable. I wrote and sent a sample, but it had no effect—they had got my money and I had got their goods. They were, they wrote, sent away in perfect order, carefully checked over, and it must have been the careless handling, ete., and they regretted very much, eta., as for the currants they must have got wet, etc. The raisins, though fairly good, were sugary and had evidently been old goods that they dared not sell over the counter. The tea : was not up to sample but was driok--1 able if plenty were used. On my neighbour’s suggestion I wrote out the invoice list, and without stating my reason got quotations from three leading old established storekeepers in Kawhia for the same list of goods. In all. cases there was a slight variation in brands—for instance, the baking powder quoted was not stocked, but in one case at least tbe brand offered was superior, in all equally good. The butter was in one case different, but was the one I preferred. I append the result. I will call the storekeepers No, 1, No. 2 and No. 8.

No. 1 £l5 12j Bd, Netcssh with order No. 2 £lslos lid „ „ No. 3 £l5 7s Id »„ „ „ I take tqe last mentioned and put it side by side with the town cost.

Ll 5 7 lit Lift 9 1 As it thus appears the balance is in favour of Auckland. To what extent ? The large sum of 1/1| 11! If we take ibe loss from the breakage, and deduc. it from the quotation of No. 1, there is a saving of 4fd by getting from tho dearest stere iu Kawhia. But, supposing there to have been no breakage, it seems now te me that it is better to deal in Kawhia. First—Because when all is said we should support, all things being equal, our neighbourseind I d) not think I am wrong in stating that the storekeepers circulate more cash weekly in wages, rent, cartage, , wharfage, etc., by treble than any other class in the community. All this benefits tbe district. Secondly—lf <hey supply bad goods, 1 at least can say they have at once been ex changed for good, and without demur. Thirdly—They deliver goods on the launches, and there is uo pillage on the way. id) no not wish to say anything £nbout breakages, there cause or location as it has nothing te do with the ease in point. One thing more. In discussing thie matter with the slorekbepers, after telling them my reason and apologising for the trouble I had given, I was gracefully forgiven and a suggestion made that I should ask the Editor of the Kawhia Settled to Undiy ptokbteto. cwultoi m «i-

penaqee. I gladly do so. I state that on one occasion I macto the excuse to one storekeeper that I got such a much larger range of choice. He reminded me of this and said, “Did lever refuse to send you thing I had not gnl ?” I h Jto reply in negative. “Did tbe goods procured coot you any more than yoa could have landed them for ? “Very little if anything,” I had to reply. “I don’t think any more,” was tbe answer. —Yours, etc., CASH CUSTOMER.

Cash with erdev Cash with order L a. d. L a. d. 2lb« Dedicated Coceanut 1 0 12 gibe. Blue* Iflbe. Globe Wax Can-lies •albs. Oranire Peel 11b. Club Coffee 1 3 a a| 1 3 I ™ 0 1 9 2 10 2lbs. Van Houten's Cocoa 2Ibs. Cornflower fbest'. 3 bottles Essences 'assorted. 7 0 4 ? 1 3 121b*. Reeded liaising’ I Stine (Sjlbs.l Assorted Fruits 2-Mbs Oatmeal 5 50*« Flour ■ 1 3 5'd Roiled Oats ft W jfl 0 3 3 10 6 3 3 3 I 13 3 a 4 eases Kerosene 1 12Ibs. butter ; factory lib. Pepper 13 0 X 1H 1 0 0 fl 56* s Sugar ,No. 1) 3 1 gross Plaid Matches 8 tins Honey 9 4 3 6 •J 12 3 « 51be. Sylvia Starch 1 P - 2lbs. Hops 1 tin Insect Powder Idoz. Highlander Milk ISlbe. Rice Iglbs. Sago ISlbs. Salt 2 qts. Assorted Sauce i box Taniwha Roup 51b.. Havelock 1 3 o’ 0 3 fl 9 2 4 1 0 3 1 0 15 0 0 6 btls. Champion Vinegar 121bs Tea 'sample sent, Freight, Railngo and Wharfage 5 0 n 6 ■17 9