SELF-SEEVHSTG IN EETAILING FOOD PEODUCTS. 25 



of which has required considerable effort. This substitution is most 

 difficult to accomplish under self-service, but when made for a just 

 purpose and when the proper methods are used is likely to be more 

 successful than when done under similar conditions in the average 

 service store. 



GEADING. 



That the grade or quality of all bulk goods, such as dried fruits, 

 rice, coffee, cheese, and butter, may be readily distinguished, careful 

 grading is necessary. In many cases the quality in any one grade 

 need not be entirely uniform, except in so far as that grade can or can 

 not be readily distinguished from another grade of the same com- 

 modity. The general principle of careful grading is applicable to 

 any distribution of foodstuffs, because it makes for customer's satis- 

 faction and is fair to all concerned, but it is discussed here as the 

 means to facilitate price recognition on the part of the cashiers and 

 checkers. -.*.b,..,.- - - 



There is no difficulty in recognizing different kinds of merchandise, 

 but there is difficulty in recognizing different grades where they are 

 not differentiated by brand or labels but are ascertained only from 

 inspection of the article itself. This applies to those bulk goods 

 that are put up for sale in plain paper bags. Usually the price of 

 each package is written on the bag itself. Of course, the grade must 

 be ascertainable by the customer, and the various methods used for 

 this purpose will be discussed tinder " Display." But when the 

 package has been removed from its place on the shelf, where its loca- 

 tion identifies its grade, there must be some means of definitely 

 determining that grade from the package itself. The writing of the^ 

 grade on each package involves the expenditure of too much time. 

 Where two or more grades of the same commodity are for sale, the.' 

 placing of the different prices on each package should suffice. But 

 if any question arises as to the correctness of the price, the grading 

 should have been done with such care that the question can be de- 

 cided by a mere glance at the contents. This not only requires care- 

 ful grading, but the elimination of closely associated grades. 



In many stores operating under self-service this difficulty is avoided 

 by the carrying of only one grade of these commodities. To make 

 this solution successful, the grade must be selected that will most 

 fully supply the demands of the majority of the customers. This 

 selection requires careful study. Particular attention must be paid 

 to the possibility of maintaining this grade, which is a problem for 

 the store's buyer to solve. In fact, the limiting of a large percentage 

 of this class of commodities to one grade is far from satisfactorv. 



The grading of fruits and vegetables, which is even more exacting 

 than that of the products already mentioned, will be taken up in 

 the section on " Perishable farm products." 

 78619°— 22 4 



