OUTLETS AND METHODS OF SALE FOR SHIPPERS. 3 



If a grower is contemplating a shipment of produce and knows 

 of any other growers in his community who specialize in a large way 

 in this commodity, he usually will find that these men are apt to be 

 well posted as to the markets for this product in the different cities 

 and may be able to give him valuable information. One of the best 

 methods will be to get into personal touch with a reliable representa- 

 tive on the market, for these distributors are willing to give reliable 

 information. 



While these remarks apply to both the individual producer and 

 the cooperator, the necessity for information of this nature is not 

 felt so keenly by the latter, inasmuch as the finding of a suitable 

 market is one of the primary functions of a cooperative association. 



The constant fluctuations in market prices make it absolutely neces- 

 sary for the shipper to keep in constant touch with the markets by 

 correspondence or otherwise if he expects to receive full value for his 

 goods. Prices vary widely from day to day, or even in the same 

 day, so that a quotation received from a market representative one 

 day may not hold good for the ensuing day, still less for the ensuing 

 week. 



When a grower has his shipments rolling to be sold in transit, the 

 telephone or telegraph must be used if shipments are to be diverted 

 from the point to which they are billed in time to take advantage of 

 a rising market elsewhere. 



Before the introduction of day and night letters by the telegraph 

 companies various commercial codes were employed commonly by 

 large distributors. The efficiency of these codes has always been 

 lessened by the liability to error and by the restrictions placed upon 

 their use by the telegraph companies. The inauguration of the day 

 and night letter service by these companies has made the use of 

 commercial codes, to a large extent, unnecessary. Cooperation among 

 producers will do much to distribute the overhead expenses of a com- 

 prehensive market news service. 



Business convention always demands that telegrams to market 

 representatives bo prepaid by the sender, unless the message is in reply 

 to one specifically requesting an answer, or including the words "wire 

 collect." 



In general, it appears to be best to sell less-car-lot shipments locally, 

 if possible, and where, not possible, to ship to the nearest market on 

 consignment. When shipping in car lots, however, it may pay the 

 shipper bo keep in touch wild the market in several cities; but a live, 

 progressive firm, upon which I hie tapper can depend, is a better judge 

 of markets and their conditions than can be the average absentee 

 shipper. However, it should always be home in mind that he is 

 prone to be prejudiced in favor of his own market. 



