4 BULLETIN 1044, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
if desired, but a specific charge is made, and usually the actual deliv- 
ery is performed by an outside agency. 
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SELF-SERVICE. 
The advantages and disadvantages of self-service are marked, so 
much so, in fact, that it seems apparent that the principle of self- 
service can not be applied in a haphazard way to any store at any 
location or under any management and be entirely successful. But 
under proper conditions, which will be explained later, it has proved 
to be a factor in making possible a considerable reduction in the cost 
of distributing merchandise to the consumer. In order that the ad- 
vantages may be utilized to the fullest extent, a considerable amount 
of study previous to installation is necessary, and in order that the 
disadvantages do not offset the advantages an efficient management is 
essential. 
Any store to be entirely successful must necessarily have a good 
location and an efficient management. But the self-service plan 
involves new features and problems to which particular attention 
must be paid. If operated along the lines of the ordinary grocery 
store without previous study of its special problems the chances for 
its success are limited. These special problems are not in themselves 
difficult, but demand only full understanding before the principles 
are put into operation. 
ADVANTAGES. 
LOW OPEKATIXG EXPENSE. 
Low operating expense is the greatest advantage and the feature 
which gives self-service its claim to a prominent place in the system 
of distribution. If it were not for this feature, self-service would be 
unknown, since the fact that it involves a decrease in service on the 
part of the distributor can hardly be considered an advantage in 
itself. The eliminated service must necessarily be compensated for 
by a reduced cost of merchandise to the consumer, all other things 
being equal, in order that the consumer's trade may be obtained and 
held. This is made possible by* the reduced cost of doing business. 
There is a direct reduction in the wage expense because of the small 
number of employees necessary to operate a self-service store. As 
compared with the service store, whether " cash-and-carry " or " credit 
and delivery." this expense usually is practically cut in half. In 
stores having a very large volume of sales the saving, under efficient 
management and arrangement, may be even more than this. In gen- 
eral, the larger the volume the greater the economy that can be 
effected. These economies do not result entirely through greater 
efficiency (which may be applied to any business), but are partially 
inherent in the principle itself. 
