The Edison phonograph monthly (Mar 1903-Feb 1904)

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EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY. A PIONEER IN THE PHONOGRAPH BUSINESS. Colton, California, June 20, 1903. Beg to acknowledge receipt of your late list of suspended Dealers. The Phonograph Monthly comes to hand regular, and I am greatly pleased with it. I am one of the oldest Phonograph Agents in the West; I bought Phonographs from the North American Co. before you had a Jobber in San Francisco. I believe I am the only person in California that has been handling Phonograph goods exclusively for ten or more years, all other Dealers I have seen handle something else along with Phonographs, but I have had plenty to do with Phonographs alone. I make it a point to repair every Edison Phonograph I see out of order. I do not wait for my customers to come to me, I go to them; I am well known all over this State and parts of Mexico. I want to tell you about one party in San Diego, Cal. He is a German ; he bought a Concert Machine when they sold for $125, and Records for $4 each. He has now upwards of 500 Records and has paid out about $800 for Phonograph goods. The first time I went to his place of business with a Phonograph he told me he would not have one of them in his stable. (I think some one had just been in ahead of me trying to sell him a Scratch-ophone). In the way of advertising I have had several suits of clothing made up in a sort of a uniform, yet different than any I have seen any one else wear, with the letters "Edison Phonographs" on the cap.. At present I have a large nickel-plated badge with the words Edison Phonograph Agent. The Phonograph is "O. K." and I want the people to know that I am in the business. Thomas H. Leonard. Who has sold Phonographs continuously longer than Mr. Leonard? ON "FOLLOWING UP." Most of our Dealers know all about our system of following up the inquiries that we receive from our advertisements. For the benefit, however, of new Dealers, we desire to again refer to the matter. When a reply to an advertisement is received by us, the catalogues or information requested are at once mailed and the inquirer advised that his request has been referred to the Dealers nearest him. The location of the inquirer is then looked up, and all Dealers in his vicinity are advised that he is seeking information about Phonographs or Records. The result is that the prospective buyer gets almost immediate attention from one or more Dealers, and we know of thousands of cases where sales have followed. It must be evident to Dealers that a company which goes to this trouble for their benefit must be a good one to tie up to. It is but one of many things being done to turn business over to the trade instead of seeking to get it direct. POSTERS AND STREET CAR CARDS. The reference in the June Monthly to our getting out a supply of posters for use on billboards and placards for use in street cars was responded to by only a few Jobbers and Dealers, and they, in some instances, had interpreted the paragraph to mean that the posters and placards were already to be had for the asking. To get up posters and placards in an attractive manner and in a large quantity means the expenditure of considerable money. It would be unwise to go, to this expense and then find that the trade did not care to. use them, unless we bore the expense of posting or putting the placards in street cars. The paragraph referred to was intended to get from the trade some idea as to the possible use of these advertising forms. The responses thus far are not enough to warrant us in going ahead with the work; but before deciding the matter, we will wait another month and see how many other Jobbers or Dealers write us on the subject. DEALERS MUST SIGN AGREEMENT AT ONCE. July 1 was the time fixed when the new Retail Dealers' Agreement would go into effect. That date now being past, Dealers who have not signed the new Agreement are liable to be put to considerable trouble in getting goods. If the matter has escaped the attention of any Dealers and they have not yet signed, it will be advisable for them to sign at once and forward Agreement to their Jobber, or to either of our offices if they are dealing direct. We do not want to be harsh with any one in the trade or to take, their names off our books ; but if Dealers do not sign, we have no other option in the matter under our system. Under date pf June 23, the American Phonograph Co., Gloversville, N. Y., writes: — "The continued holding on of the season's business has passed all calculations as compared with past years." 3821 Sydenham St., Philadelphia, June 18, 1903. I wish, to assure you that you have my hearty co-operation in your dealings with all named on the suspended list. The Phonograph Monthly is welcome and greatly appreciated, and trust it will grow each month and develop finally into a magazine of twenty-five or thirty pages. I shall do all I can to help the good work along. Assuring you my hearty support at all times, I am, yours truly, J. M. Eisenhuth.