THE ARTFUL "DROPPER"

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 110, 30 October 1911, Page 6

THE ARTFUL "DROPPER"

A WARNING. Not long ago the Christchurch correspondent of the Auckland Star wrote:— ''Housewives in the city have frequent f experiences of the back-door vendor of) cheap goods, and many women have pur- j chased spurious articles from glib mer- ] chants who, by artful talk, have accom- l plished a sale of worthless articles. With a limited field to work upon, and the necessity of securing trade in the midst of keen competition, the confidence merchant of this type—a ''dropper" he is termed by the criminal class —has to resort to many artifices, and to anpear with novel ideas to induce people to part with their money. One salesman who has succeeded in victimising many housewives recently has dealt in a brand of "confidence tea" that has given to its purchasers little more than food for reflection. His methods are simple and alluring. He appears at the door with a packet of tea less than a pound, and on the appearance of the housewife he presses this upon her, following it : with a teapot which he presents to her. He then speaks of handsome cruets to be given away with the tea packets, but he does not show the articles. His victim is then informed that the tea and teapot are presentations, but that if a coupon is found in the packet a fee of 2s 6d must be paid. He assures his victim by stating that only one packet in every 20 contains a coupon, and then asks her I to investigate the packet and learn her fate. The search is made, and the coupon is discovered. In most cases the '•lamb" pays the half-crown, and the i ''dropper" goes on his way rejoicing, and it is only on rare occasions that he meets with defeat. Large numbers of people have been visited by the merchant, and after his departure the tea has always been found to be worthless, and the teapot to be of very little more worth."

We reprint this article because we are told that artists of a like character, if not the same, have been in evidence in this district lately. The credulous housekeeper should be on guard and beware of the canvasser and hawker.