MARKETING 279 



has, therefore, fallen into disrepute. Many commission 

 houses, on the other hand, have built up for themselves repu- 

 tations for honesty in all their dealings which have enabled 

 them to continue despite the growing suspicion concerning 

 the commission business as a whole. Furthermore, many 

 farm products, especially fruits and melons, are of such per- 

 ishable nature that dealers in the city are unwilling to receive 

 them by outright purchase. They insist that the risk be 

 assumed by the shipper, and this leaves the commission 

 method almost the only alternative. There has been a tend- 

 ency in recent years to pass laws subjecting the commission- 

 men to rigid accounting in all their dealings both with pro- 

 ducer and retailer, and the effect will unquestionably result 

 in good, alike to the producer and to the honest commission- 

 man. 



390. The broker. A broker differs from a commission- 

 man in that he deals in large quantities, and has regular 

 customers among both buyers and sellers. He is located, as 

 a rule, in a large city, where he becomes thoroughly ac- 

 quainted with market conditions, thus being able to sell the 

 produce at the best figure. He does so in the name of the 

 shipper, receiving a fixed compensation for his services. The 

 shipper is sometimes the producer and sometimes a local 

 buyer or speculator, who may or may not have bought the 

 fruit on the trees. The broker's compensation is usually so 

 much for the car, box, or crate. This method of sale usually 

 works out satisfactorily for all concerned but is limited, as a 

 rule, to the larger shippers. Ordinarily the broker sells to 

 the jobber. 



391. The jobber buys in large quantities from the pro- 

 ducer, a local buyer, or through a broker, and sells to the 

 retail trade. The jobber is necessary under the present 

 marketing system because he breaks up the large lots. In 

 doing so, he assumes a number of responsibilities: (1) He 

 guarantees to the shipper payment for the fruit received. 



