The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1916)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY, NOVEMBER, 1916 KIPP PHONO COMPANY TREATS EMPLOYEES TO OUTING THE Kipp Phonograph Company of Indianapolis, besides being alive and up-to-date in other ways, believes that the policy of showing consideration to its employees and taking an interest in 4* fl'j| 4J $ ft # *H 8S* #* their welfare is good business. Recently the Kipp establishment was closed for a day while employers and employees held an enjoyable outing at a quiet pleasure resort near Indianapolis. The members of the firm provided a fine chicken dinner at noon and a lunch in the evening and also met the other expenses incidental to the affair. A program of sports that included a ball game, bowling, croquet and other events provided entertainment during the day and in the evening fireworks and dancing were enjoyed. The music for dancing was provided by an Amberola. Did those who attended the affair have a good time? Glance over the happy faces in the picture given herewith and judge for yourself. DIRECT COMPARISONS BRING RESULTS DIRECT comparison is being used with good results by Martin L. Benson, Amberola dealer of Dongola, 111., according to a letter received from him in response to our request for "Newsday" contributions. Mr. Benson is working in competition with many varieties of cheap talking-machines but he finds that it is not difficult to convince prospects that they get more real value for their money when they purchase an Edison than they do when they invest in some built-to-sell music box. His letter is one of many recently received in which direct comparison is advocated as the best means of demonstrating the superiority of the Amberola over any and all makes of talking-machines. "In reply to your request for a few lines on 'Newsday,' " states Mr. Benson, "I would say that I secure my prospects in three ways: advertising in local papers, sending advertising through the mail, and by giving concerts. After securing a prospect I endeavor to make arrangements for a home demonstration as I find this a most effective way of closing sales. The question of price is one big obstacle in making sales. This section is flooded with offers of cheap talking-machines by the great mail order houses of Chicago. Some of these instruments sell as low as $4.50 each and from the claims that are made for them you would think that they could not be surpassed in construction or tone. "In demonstrating, I endeavor to impress on the mind of the customer the fact that the Edison is immeasurably superior in tonal quality to any talking-machine and that it is far above all competing instruments in mechanical excellence. If you can convince them that the Edison is far better than the cheap machines it is not difficult to make them appreciate that it is cheaper in the long run to buy an Edison than to throw their money away on an inferior phonograph. Playing a talking-machine in direct comparison with an Amberola is the best way of overcoming competition and impressing prospects with the fact that the Amberola is beyond comparison with 'talkers.' " LET THE AMBEROLA SPEAK FOR ITSELF A RECOMMENDATION of the policy of giving demonstrations at lodge meetings, church gatherings and country school entertainments is contained in a letter from George E. Buss, Amberola dealer at New Philadelphia, Ohio. Mr. Buss says that he has known sales to result from such demonstrations as long as a year after they were made. The writer was one of the many who responded to our request for Newsday letters, and his communication, excerpts from which are given below, was very interesting. "To say that I am an Edison dealer heart and soul is expressing the situation modestly," writes Mr. Buss. "I have handled the Edison, with other lines, for many years but the Edison is my favorite and the profit-making possibilities in it are greater than in any of the other goods that I handle. "I used to wish that the Edison business would become again as active as it was in 1903-04 and, now that it has come back with extraordinary good measure, I am going to take advantage of it. "I have gone so far with my Edison advertising that many times people on the street call me Edison. I am glad to hear this for it surely shows that advertising pays. I never lose an opportunity to get the Amberola before the people and show it at lodges, church festivals, school entertainments, etc. I have known sales to result from such demonstrations more than a year after they were given."