SELLING METHODS 209 



which, calls for all of the ingenuity human brains can 

 devise to keep and maintain a standard of efficiency. 



Auctions. A method of disposing of fruit which has 

 very recently become quite popular is by means of the 

 auction. These auctions are in no wise connected with 



the producing end, but are strictly a selling organiza^ 



tion. There is one, sometimes two, doing business in 

 every large city of the United States. For the most part 

 they are corporations usually of the profit-sharing kind, 

 their main object being to handle fruit on a basis of gross 

 receipts for the fruit sold. They are not materially dif- 

 ferent from the commission men except in the very large 

 business that is handled. 



To dispose of fruit through an auction company it is 

 necessary first to belong to some exchange or organiza- 

 tion. As an individual it is practically impossible to sell 

 fruit through these auctions. They handle very large 

 quantities and mostly from the larger exchanges. Their 

 argument in favor of the auction is quick action in the 

 selling operation. Of the more perishable fruits, this is 

 likely to be to the best interest of the shipper. They 

 work on a very much smaller commission than do the 

 ordinary commission houses and are, at the present time, 

 handling enormous quantities of fruit. Some of the 

 more perishable fruit, like the deciduous kinds from the 

 far "West, also the imported lemons and a good deal of 

 Porto Rican and other tropical fruits, are sold almost 

 entirely in this way. 



The method of doing business with an auction com- 

 pany would be about as follows: The carload of fruit 

 is consigned to the agent of the exchange, and on the 

 arrival of this car at its destination it is turned over to 



