VICTORIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12887, 13 June 1936, Page 8

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

SARAH ANNE RHODES FELLOWSHIR IN HOME. SCIENCE Scene I ; ‘T think I won’t buy anything to-day .after all,"’ says the shopper to the 'salesperson. ‘‘Anyway if is about time for the matinee.” Site departs nonchalantly, chattering tr> her companion of (ho ma.tinee, wh'lo two salej.pei sons exchange significant glances as they wearily replace the many holts of material displayed for the benefit of the fickle shopper who wa-s ,ju-st killing tune. How many of in, either intentionally, or unintentionally, in some I'aslrou abuse the services provided for tm by 1h * stores? The retailer’s slogan. “The customer is a-lwars right,” has been responsible for many practices which are detrimental and expensive io both retailer and customer. Some of ns ought, to carry in our purses along with our shopping memoranda; in. list of “DoAs and Don't*.” Sueli a list- might- he something like this: Do; Know what you want- when you got! to the shop. Know the kind of goods, the quality and the size. ])<•*- eido upon purchases as quickly as von can. He courteous to sale,*pocrans and fellow shoppers. Shop on daVs and «i.t- a. time when the shops are least busy. Par hills promptly. Don’t-; Take salesperson's time to display goods that you have no intention of buying. Leave your holiday shopping until the lash possible moment. A**k to have- very small articles delivered. Ask for si special delivery service unless absolutely necessary. Abuse the privilege of returning good'u Handle fragile good* roughly or with soiled hand; or gloves.

DECTDTNC \VTTAT TO REV If we know what we want when we go into the shop to buy. wo will save our own time and-that- of the salesperson. Borne say: “How can I know what I want until I look mound?” To-day, when there are so many advertisements telling us what i hops have to .sell, it is fairly easy to know what goods are available. Shops i.ure usually very courteous io “lookers.” They do not object to shoppers examining goods on display. Salespersons display many goods to shopper.; who are .just looking round. Wo .should not, however, abuse this p'ivilege. Home shoppers a*k sale-s----pensons to display goods they have no intention of buying. We should know not only tlie lc'nd of goods we want. approximately wlra-t, we wish to pay, and above all—the s : z:> desired.- Wo -should he certain of tlie sizes of garments, as hose or underwear, the. length of curtains, the dime:iskms of rugs and the like. This-maker; .1 easier Io buy and may avoid the necessity of returning goods which .-re not the. correct size.

AVe should deckle' as rpiiekly an wo can whether or not wo are going to purchase a. particular article. And if we know before we go into the shop what wo want, wo will be able to decide readily. We wdl not need, to lake tin* salesperson's time and cause other custom ]•* to wait. One need not I eel rushed about making decisions, however. If we want t-o take more tint i o decide than we feel we .shornld when other customers are waiting, it is perfectly poes blc to suggest to the salesperson that she, serve someone else whire wo a.re making our decisions.

Ca e in handling goods when shopping is also important. Handling fragile goods roughly will soon make them appear shopworn. Delicate hose, may In* mined by a .shopper’s fingernail* or rings. Handling goods with soiled gloves or bands is inconsiderate of the .shop and of the future buyer of the article.

We are accustomed to such signs as “Do your Christmas shopping early.” TIPs admonition might equally well by. used for Easter shopping and the other shopping that we do for .special, holidays. If more buyers planned ahead and' did their shopping early, instead of waiting until the very last possible moment, the ’snlesprTK'on and tlio customer would ho better able to enjoy the holiday. AVe would receive greater satisfaction from out goods; we. would have a hotter stock of goods from which to select; wo would receive more, courteous and less, hurried attention and would also help to keep the salesperson from becoming worn out..

Likewise wo can, do the shop and ourselves a- real service if we select the day of. the week and the time of the day for our .shopping when the shop is least busy. Saturday is usually a busy day because many people must shop then because their occupations do- not permit them to shop on other days. Therefore the buyer who can shop on-'other days should avoid Saturdays. The time of day wc go to the shop is also worthy of consideration. Early morning bonis are least busy in departmental shops. In grocery shops early morning and. late afternoon are the busiest times. Therefore, if possible without too great inconvenience in other work, wo will find it easy to shop near the noon hour. There will be little or no waiting for the (salesperson,s and no lineup. The (.salesperson and shop manager will he grateful to us tor this consideration. Other points to remember are courtesy to .salespersons,, hints on delivery arid return of goods, etc., and these will receive attention in our article next week. .