The Edison phonograph monthly (Mar-Dec 1907)

Edison Phonograph Monthly Vol. V. October, 1907 No. 8 Co-operation and Enthusiasm Essential Factors In a comparatively few days the new Agreement will be in force and the trade everywhere will be selling machines with new equipments and at the new prices. We will then be squarely face to face with conditions that will mean much for the future of the Edison Phonograph. We have no hesitancy in declaring that, in our opinion, the new conditions are going to bring a greater and constantly growing business; conditions that will more than ever establish the supremacy of Edison goods. Jobbers and Dealers can be of great assistance in hastening the complete fruition of these conditions. Much will depend upon their attitude toward the new equipment. If, because they have a stock of horns on hand, they are going to feel aggrieved and talk down our equipment, the success of the new conditions will be handicapped and, in such cases, progress will be sJow. Such Dealers, however, will be standing in their own light and will in the end injure themselves. If, on the other hand, they will accept, put out and talk the new equipment with enthusiasm, the complete success of our new plans will be almost instantaneous. The demand for horns of all shapes, styles and decorations is largely artificial and due to the efforts of manufacturers to compel the trade to carry large stocks. The public, as a rule, knows little about the horn proposition when it thinks of buying a Phonograph and would not know much more if it was not, upon reaching a Dealer's store, told about the many kinds of horns on the market. Not more than one purchaser in fifty will give the matter any further thought after being told that an Edison Phonograph can be sold with no other horn than the one furnished with it. Even the fiftieth man will waive his objection upon being told that the horns furnished with Edison Phonographs are the best for reproducing purposes that have ever been made at a similar price. This statement cannot be successfully contradicted, as Dealers themselves may prove by playing the new horn against any of equal cost in their stock. That it is not gaudily decorated will eventually prove a better selling point than otherwise. Perhaps the feature about the new conditions that should appeal most to the Dealer is the fact that he gets a protected price on every horn that he sells, and this alone, even if there were no other advantages, should cause him to give us his wholehearted support in carrying out the new plans. This article is not written because we have any fear concerning the situation, but because we earnestly desire to get the complete and enthusiastic co-operation of the entire trade at the earliest possible moment. The success of the Edison business has been built up by the willingness of manufacturer, Jobber and Dealer to work together for their mutual interests, and the continuance of the same spirit will make it an even greater success. New Plan for Cash Discounts to Dealers A letter bearing the signature of F. K. Dolbeer, General Manager of Sales, has just been sent to all Jobbers, calling their attention to the practice of some Jobbers of permitting Dealers to discount a current month's purchases if paid in full on or before the ioth of the following month. The letter points out that this is a violation of the new Agreement, Section 3 of which reads as follows: 3. Jobbers' Terms to Dealers are net 30 days from date of invoice or a cash discount of Two Per Cent may be allowed as follows: On purchases made from the first day to and including the fifteenth day of the month if paid in full on or before the twentieth day of the same month; and on purchases mad^ after the fifteenth, to and including the last day of the month, if paid in full on or before the fifth day of the following month. This feature of the new Agreement is being referred to in this especial manner so that it may be fully understood by Jobbers and Dealers, thereby avoiding misunderstandings between the trade and ourselves.