MAKKETING SOUTHERX-GROWN SWEET POTATOES. 37 
If the buyer, Jones & Smith, makes a satisfactory offer, or if John 
Doe quotes the price and it is accepted, the shipper, John Doe, should 
wire immediately confirming the sale at the price named. If the car 
is loaded and ready for shipment the following form of telegram is 
suggested : 
Shipped you to-day A. C. L. 36922 Pennsylvania delivery 540 crates number one 
Porto Ricos dollar fifty crate fob here. 
The phrase " Subject to confirmation" should always be used, other- 
wise acceptance by the buyer results in a binding contract. In quoting 
f. o. b. offerings the trade understands that " point of origin" is meant 
unless otherwise specified. The shipper, however, should avoid a 
possible misunderstanding by specifying whether at " point of origin" 
or " destination." In either case, it is understood that the shipment 
is subject to inspection by the buyer. If it is below grade, or not as 
represented, it may be rejected and the shipper has no recourse. 
In quoting "Shipment to-day" it is understood by the trade that 
the car offered is to be loaded and billed before midnight of the day 
the order is given. "Immediate shipment" permits a period 24 
hours longer, and " Prompt shipment " 72 hours longer than " To-day." 
Offers of a carload are understood to mean that the weight, when 
loaded, will not be less than the minumum weight specified in the 
carrier's tariff, and not more than 20 per cent in excess of the minimum. 
COLLECTIONS AND BILLINGS. 
A large number of cars are sold on "open account;" that is, a car 
is billed direct to the buyer and an invoice is sent with the bill of 
lading. While this method has been satisfactory to many shippers, 
it should be used only when sales are made to a dealer whose integrity 
and financial responsibility are unquestioned. It is a method which 
can not be recommended for the average shipper. The best practice 
in f . o. b. selling is for the shipper to draw a sight draft on the buyer. 
This is the usual method of collecting. The draft may be sent direct 
to the bank named by the buyer or it may be deposited by the 
shipper in a local bank for collection. If deposited for collection the 
local bank sends it to its " correspondent" in the city named unless it 
bears a notation such as "Send to (name of buyer's bank)." If the 
shipper desires, he may request that the receiving bank wire him in 
the event the draft is not paid promptly. 
To obtain payment before a shipment is delivered to a buyer, 
the shipper may bill the car to himself, "advise the consignee." 
This is a method used by many distributors and cooperative associa- 
tions. A " straight " bill of lading is used, and the original is retained 
by the shipper. A draft is drawn on the buyer and an order is at- 
tached to it which directs the delivering railroad to deliver the car 
to the buyer without presentation of the bill of lading. This order 
should be written on the business letterhead of the shipper and should 
be in the folio whig form : 
Yemassee, S. C, March 10, 192S. 
Agent, Pennsylvania R. R., 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Dear Sir: On payment of all charges please deliver without bill of lading car No 
A. C. L. 36922, containing 540 crates of sweet potatoes, to Jones A: Smith. 
Yours truly, 
John Doe. 
