WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION OP 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 EEJECTIONS. 
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 
on a declining market is unfair to everyone concerned. In the case 
of 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 business 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- 
ers, with little financial backing, who do not remain very long in 
business in any one market. Unjustified rejection is coming to be 
confined more and more to comparatively unimportant marketing 
concerns. 
REDRESS FOR REJECTIONS. 
In case a car is rejected the shipper may sell elsewhere, or may 
make an allowance on the price to the original purchaser in order 
to close the transaction. A claim may be entered against the rail- 
road in case the company was at fault in any way. Usually dealers 
