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Editorial
December 27, 1935
The Weekly Gazette
East Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
The Gazette's editorial urges locals to give them a chance to bid on printing jobs, explaining that costs require detailed calculation and criticizing assumptions about high local prices, while accepting fair competition.
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AN EVEN BREAK
Speaking of printing we read an article in one of our neighboring weeklies a few weeks ago that greatly impressed us because it can be so universally applied. It went along in this manner.
You can't figure printing from where you sit--the cost of it, we mean. Here in the office where we have all the data on labor, overhead, stock and whatnot in records, we can't look at a job of work and tell you offhand that it will cost you, two, three, four, or ten dollars -or more or less.
No sir, we have to go into a huddle with ourselves and add up this figure and subtract that figure and multiply by two and divide by five--and then trust that a press won't get tempermental, or a fuse blow out or something and deprive us of a good substantial profit.
Oh sure, we're leading up to something. It's this: we see a poster here and a letterhead there that have been done by an out of town printer. That's all right with us. We don't expect to have monopoly on printing. Price enters into the buying of printing--and rightly so--just as it enters into the buying of any other merchandise.
All we object to is that the various examples of out of town printing we've seen are surprises to us. In other words no one came into the shop and asked, "how much will this cost?" It's everyone's inalienable privilege to reject a bid. If you feel you can get a better price elsewhere speak your mind freely and you'll find that we'll still be amiable and take our defeat as just another one of life's little disappointments.
We have a rough general idea that some residents of this vicinity take one look at a printing job they are planning and say to themselves, "Oh, The Gazette will charge too much for that." We repeat: you can't figure a job from where you sit. Only last week we lost one job because our price was higher than an out of town printer's. We got another job because our price was lower. You never can tell where the plus and minus signs will light.
Give us an even break. We won't be deeply hurt if we lose. We'll be grateful if we win.
Speaking of printing we read an article in one of our neighboring weeklies a few weeks ago that greatly impressed us because it can be so universally applied. It went along in this manner.
You can't figure printing from where you sit--the cost of it, we mean. Here in the office where we have all the data on labor, overhead, stock and whatnot in records, we can't look at a job of work and tell you offhand that it will cost you, two, three, four, or ten dollars -or more or less.
No sir, we have to go into a huddle with ourselves and add up this figure and subtract that figure and multiply by two and divide by five--and then trust that a press won't get tempermental, or a fuse blow out or something and deprive us of a good substantial profit.
Oh sure, we're leading up to something. It's this: we see a poster here and a letterhead there that have been done by an out of town printer. That's all right with us. We don't expect to have monopoly on printing. Price enters into the buying of printing--and rightly so--just as it enters into the buying of any other merchandise.
All we object to is that the various examples of out of town printing we've seen are surprises to us. In other words no one came into the shop and asked, "how much will this cost?" It's everyone's inalienable privilege to reject a bid. If you feel you can get a better price elsewhere speak your mind freely and you'll find that we'll still be amiable and take our defeat as just another one of life's little disappointments.
We have a rough general idea that some residents of this vicinity take one look at a printing job they are planning and say to themselves, "Oh, The Gazette will charge too much for that." We repeat: you can't figure a job from where you sit. Only last week we lost one job because our price was higher than an out of town printer's. We got another job because our price was lower. You never can tell where the plus and minus signs will light.
Give us an even break. We won't be deeply hurt if we lose. We'll be grateful if we win.
What sub-type of article is it?
Trade Or Commerce
What keywords are associated?
Printing Costs
Local Business
Fair Bidding
Competition
Out Of Town Printers
What entities or persons were involved?
The Gazette
Out Of Town Printer
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Fair Competition For Local Printing Business
Stance / Tone
Plea For Even Break In Bidding
Key Figures
The Gazette
Out Of Town Printer
Key Arguments
Printing Costs Cannot Be Figured Casually Without Detailed Calculations
Local Printers Should Be Given A Chance To Bid On Jobs
Out Of Town Printing Examples Surprise In Quality Or Price
Everyone Has The Right To Reject A Bid And Seek Better Prices Elsewhere
Prejudging Local Prices As Too High Prevents Fair Competition