WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 7 



take into consideration the character of the product which is being 

 moved, live up to all agreements, and accept any losses which justly 

 fall to either. 



UNJUST REJECTIONS. 



A break in the market price may be another cause for rejection 

 and one which can not be justified. A dealer may buy a carload of 

 a certain commodity and certain grade and agree to pay a specified 

 price. Before the car arrives the market price may drop materially. 

 To accept the produce at the contract price may entail considerable 

 loss. Hence, when the car arrives it is given a very rigid inspection, 

 and it is seldom difficult to discover a number of defects in perish- 

 able produce when the inspector is devoting close attention to the 

 effort. Thus a drop in market price may convert a car of extra fancy 

 apples into " C-grade " stuff in the opinion of the buyer who sees a 

 loss confronting him. 



This practice of rejecting on a declining market is being dis- 

 approved more and more by reliable concerns. It injures the busi- 

 ness standing of the buyer. One of the worst things that can be 

 said about a produce dealer is that he is a ready rejector. Refusal 

 en a declining market is unfair to everyone concerned. In the case 

 <>f the buyer, the reputation of a firm may be seriously injured by this 

 practice. In addition, if the buyer is able to effect a compromise with 

 the shipper whereby he is able to secure the produce for a greatly 

 reduced price, he can afford to throw the produce on the market at a 

 price which will depress it still further. 



All firms which propose to remain in business are anxious to build 

 up reputations for integrity. All prominent firms have established 

 reputations to maintain and transactions with them are usually safe. 

 Many firms operating on a smaller scale have gilt-edged reputations 

 where they are known and are ambitious to expand their businass by 

 giving the best service possible. 



Most of the abuses with which the distributing trade in general is 

 charged are traceable directly to the operations of irresponsible deal- 

 i is. with little financial backing, who do not remain very long in 

 business in any one market. Un justified rejection is coming to be 

 confined more and more to comparatively unimportant marketing 

 concerns. 



REDRESS FOR REJECTIONS. 



Tn case a car is rejected the shipper may sell elsewhere, or may 

 make an allowance on (he price to (he original purchaser in order 

 to close the transaction. A claim may lie entered against, the rail- 

 road in case the company was at fault in any way. Usually dealers 



