Document B52V9D50dZ1m30ZJDNq0oNDjL

Off the Editor's Chest' (Continued, from page 24) ay be a good idea to make an tra carbon of your first letter, "follow up" purposes, to be |ed just in case the manufacturer *es fail to acknowledge or reond to your complaint. There are undoubtedly cases in ich consumers, no matter how %\l founded their complaints or <yw well presented, will be given e run-around or have their letrs ignored entirely. On the ^ole, however, CR has been imessed with the trouble that re- msible officials have gone to in -es that have been brought to eir attention during the past |r years to make reasonable justments of well-founded, (parly-presented complaints. iis attitude will undoubtedly h\n to permeate the lower hierChies of business and manubturing concerns and sales orjinizations as it becomes increasgly desirable to cultivate con`mers' good will to secure sales a competitive basis. However, the practice of writing the head of a company, store, or manu facturing concern when a con sumer finds it impossible to secure a satisfactory adjustment of his complaint at a lower level, is one that more consumers should adopt as a matter of policy. It is not the mere letter of com plaint or protest that is impor tant. The statement of the case should be carefully and clearly worded, so that a busy executive can find out what is wrong, if possible, without the necessity of entering into further correspon dence to obtain essential details needed to help him reach a pre liminary decision. (Too often consumers consider vehemence in expressing their dissatisfaction a substitute for facts and informa tion useful to the firm whose pro duct is complained about, and they write letters that they think are forceful, but which neverthe less fail to state just what the trouble is or just what sort of adjustment is wanted or ex pected.) It is important to be clear, reasonable, and fair, and to make no statement which cannot be completely substantiated. (It will serve no useful purpose to insult the executive or his sales or ganization or research depart ment.) Don't be too ready to blame the local dealer. He may not be even as well situated as you are to get adjustments, cither be cause he's not good at letter writing (many well-intentioned merchants have difficulty in find ing cither the time, clerical help, or inspiration for preparing such correspondence) or because the factory in many cases will, as a matter of policy, make the dealer absorb as many of the costs due to defective products as it can. (This has often been true of big concerns which have national reputations and which sell a pro duct that is so much in demand that dealers vie with one another to obtain the local agency for it.) The manufacturer may not care a great deal about your troubles, but if he is wise, he will be de cidedly concerned about troubles you are having with his product which are likely to be representa tive of difficulties experienced by many other purchasers of his goods. \bridged Cumulative Index of Previous 1946 Issues bnsumers'Research Bulletins Month and Page dhesive pasteat...................................June, 21 `atka highway, not for pleasure drlvlnft....................................Aug., 3 ppilances, electric, non-availability........Apr., 29f; May, 15-16; July, 15-16 ~ntc poisoning, tew antidote....................................Aug.,29-30 tomobiles, 1946f..................Dec. `45, 4, 5-8; Jan., 5-15; Feb., 5-9; Mar., 10-14; Apr.. 9-11; May. 4, 12-13; June, 4, 5 Utomohlles, 1947 Studebakerf.. .July, 9-10 utomobtleR, front-wheel vs. rear-wheel drive..............................Apr., 19-21 increased operating coat............ June, 3 ' sleeping equlpmentt................... Aug., 4 water-injection........................... July, 16-17 etles, Japanese, controlling..........Aug., 3 ~erages, carbonated....................... Aug., 4 inoculars, prism............................. June, 10-12 utterfat helpful against Bvitamin deficiencies......................... Aug., 29 meras, post-warf..........................Aug., 16-17 ~ds, playingf..................................June, 23-25 pet sweeperst............................... Mar.. 20-23 ment, household (Goodyear)t----July, 30 ments: linoleumt; mendingf-----Mar., 38 ~ir, lawnt.............................................. July, 8 emlcal specialty productsf....June, 25-26 eaner, cooking utensils Pan-Glo)t............................................ May, 30 eaner, householdt................. July, 21-22; 29 "soapless crystala"t.................... June, 30 Cleaning gadget (Electro-Static)!.. .Aug., 24 Phonograph Cleanser, all purpose (C.C.C.)f..........May, 30 neediest............ ...Jan., 19-20; Fob., 15-17; Coats, fur, high prices........................... Aug., 3 __ Mar., 23-25; June. 9-10 Cocoat................................................. Feb.. 19-23 Phonograph recordst.....................................eachissue Cold-wave permanents, Photographic, 111-effects.................................May, 3; Aug., 3 developing and printing, kits for home uset......................... Mar.. 19 commercial mall-orderf......... July, 19-20 Consumers* Test Manual..................... July, 14 Porcelain, material for mending t.. .Aug., 8 Corrections and Pressure saucepans!.......................... Mar., 5-9; emendations?.................... Feb., 14; July, 11 _ .. A Aug.,11-13 Dandruff...........................................................Aug.,4 Radios!...........................Mar., 26-27; Apr., 7-9; DDT........................................ Jan., 3; Feb., 4, 29 _ . A June, 18; Aug., 9-10 Denture adhesive powders?....................... July,4 Record player?...............................................June,18-19 Diapers, babies't..............................Mar., 14-17 Refrigerators, disposablet.............................................June,6-7 gas and kerosene (Servel)t....................June,17 Dog food, deleterious effects of Removers, paint, varnish!............. Apr., 12-14 insufficient protein............................ Aug., 30 Sewers, cleaning Dry shaver (Vestpok)t.................................July,18-19 tree roots out of!.......................................Apr.,22-24 Dustcloths, emulsion for treating?.. Apr., 26 Shampoo, cream!..........................................Apr.,30 Editorial............................... each Issue, page 2 Sheets, waterproof crib!.............................Apr..21-22 Exposure meters, photographlet... .Jan., 29 Sink and dralnboard mender!........... Julv, 39 Fire cxtingulsherst................................ June. 26 Skillets, new magnesium...................... July. 4 Flashlights, three newf...............................May,7 Soap, house and auto!.................................May,30 Gasket sealer Soap, Superfatted Basis!........................... Mar.,38 (Cross Country Gasket Maker)f. .July, 30 Steam Ironst...................................................Jan..23-26 Gasoilnet......................................................... July,10-11Stoves, electric tablet................................. Aug.,18-20 Gasolines, new high-powered............. Apr., 24 Strikes, slowed production....................... Aug.,10 Special Bulletin 26 available. ... Apr., 26 Sweets, nutritional value!......................... May,25 Hair tonics and a hair dyef.......... June, 19-20 Te ephone. lou I-speaking Houses, build now or wait?....................... May,5-7 intercommunicating!.............................. May,24 Irons, elecrrict...............................................Aug.,5-8 Toaiters, non-automitic?................ July. 5-8 Jacks, automobilet....................................... May,23-2V4acuum cleaners, English, In U.S. .Aug., 29 Labels, clothing, misleading.............Aug.. 3-4 Washer, portablet.........................................Aug.,14-15 Lenses, coated, photographief.. .May, 17-20 Washing machines!.. Feb., 10-12; May, 8-12; Lotions, handt...............................................Apr.,5-7 July, 13-14 Mayonnaise, test of 6 brandst----- May, 13-15 Water softeners!........................................... Mar..30-33 Motion pictures!............................................eachissuWe aterproofing wails (Aque!la)t...May, 20-22 Motor oil dope (Caslte)t............................. Apr.,14-1W7 axed papert..................................................July,23-24 Motor oilsf......................................................Aug.,13-1W4 eed control!.................................................Aug.,22-24 Nail lacquersf.................................................Jan.,15-1W8 elding outfit, electric, Pants, babies' trainlngt............................ June.7-9 home and farmt............................ Apr., 17-19 Pencils, glass-marking!........................ Jan., 26 Window glass, low-cost Pen, fountain (Esterbrook)t......................July,4 translucent coating................................. Aug..17 Pens, fountain,.ball-tlppedt... .Feb., 13-14; June, 13-14; Aug., 20-22 tindicates that listings of names or brands Permanent waves, hornet..........................Mar.,17-1a9re included. CONSUMERS' RESEARCH BULLETIN SEPTEMBER, 1946 31