1909 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 11 



AS THE ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT SEES IT 



One of the purposes of this department has been to harmonize the inter- 

 ests of our advertisers and subscribers. This work we do largely by personal 

 correspondence; but occasionally (here arise matters of general or special in- 

 terest which may be so valuable to others that we give place to them on these 

 pages. 



Bee-supply dealers, as well as manufacturers and advertisers generally, 

 who are seeking to build up a profitable business by means of advertising, are 

 often in doubt as to the best course to pursue when complaint reaches them of 

 either a shortage of goods, which they are sure were included, or that the wrong 

 kind of goods was sent, and they can not account for such a report. Notjlong 

 ago a report reached this office that a bee-supply dealer in the East had sent 

 one of our subscribers the wrong kind of sections; and, coupled with a some- 

 what unusual delay, this made the purchaser quite displeased. The order was 

 so clear that it didn't seem at all possible that the wrong kind of sections could 

 have been sent; and before sending another lot the shipper wrote for an ex- 

 planation. Now, when the explanation came, the shipi)er himself was as much 

 surprised as any one could be; for it turned out that the customer, being un- 

 familiar with bee-appliances, had not understood the folding of the one-piece 

 sections, and had folded them wrong side out, thereby increasing their measure- 

 ment. We get such bitter complaints occasionally of carelessness on the part 

 of our advertisers that we cite this case to show that the real facts may be 

 quite different from what a first report may have indicated. 



Another quite different matter came to our notice a day or two ago. One of 

 our subscribers had written us several letters complaining of one of our advertis- 

 ers, to the effect that the queen ordered many weeks ago had not been received, 

 nor could he get any advice regarding it. Now, queen-breeders throughout 

 the country were crowded with orders all the early part of the season; but for 

 some weeks most of them have been able to fill orders by return mail, and yet 

 this party failed to get his queen or any advice regarding it. After we had 

 written the advertiser several times, our subscriber received his queen, and, 

 notwithstanding the bitter complaints he had previously made, in advising us 

 of the receipt of the queen he said, "I must say the shape they were shipped 

 in and put up makes A. I. Root and all others with whom I have had dealings 

 look like mere imitators. The queens looked as good as expected, also." Nat- 

 urally we felt surprised at the attitude of this man, and we concluded that he 

 hadn't had dealings with a large number of our queen-breeders, many of whom 

 send queens successfully to all parts of the world. Our purpose to get fair 

 play for both subscribers and advertisers remains the same, however. 



We believe that, in a large majority of cases, dealings between readers and 

 advertisers are alike satisfactory and profitable to both; but it so often hap- 

 pens that the satisfied customer is so content with his transaction that he for- 

 gets to mention it, either to us or the one with whom he has been dealing, that 

 it is pleasant to read the occasional comments received at this office regarding 

 transactions with our advertisers. Just a day or two ago a Florida bee-keeper 

 wrote us expressing his great satisfaction with the treatment he received from 

 a well-known honey-merchant to whom he had consigned his honey, reporting 

 that not only had he received all he expected but had prompt settlement by re- 

 turn mail at a price higher than anticipated, or that the market warranted, as 

 it appeared to him. We passed the letter along to the honey-merchant; for, no 

 matter how many satisfied customers he has. he is always glad to see such a 

 commendation as this. If our advertisers do well by you, as they usually do, 

 don't hesitate to tell them of it; for, if for no other reason, it will probably pay 

 you, when you are sending another order, in the extra effort they will make to 

 serve you. 



