Spirella Manual (1913)/Section 12
SECTION 12.[edit]
- How To Order Goods.
110. STANDARD ORDER BLANKS.—Every Local Representative should keep a supply of our Standard Order Blanks on hand and always use them when sending orders to the house. Begin by filling out each blank space on the first page of the order Blank, taking great care to write out plainly and fully the shipping directions, including the Express Company by which you desire the goods to arrive. Give full name and address of each purchaser arranged in alphabetical order. Mark down style, material, color and size of each corset desired. Give everything requested in full and verify your Order Sheet with your Order Book. Do not use a Special and Custom Order Blank when a Standard Corset is wanted. Keep a copy of every order sent us for your reference. 111. SPECIAL AND CUSTOM ORDER BLANK.—Each Corsetiere must also keep herself well supplied with SPECIAL AND CUSTOM ORDER BLANKS and never fail to use the same when ordering Special and Custom work. Fill out the measurements required and study instructions on Special Order Blank and in Catalog and Section 10 of this Manual about taking measurements for Special and Custom work. When you have thoroughly learned how to, take these measurements you will be able to do your work accurately and satisfactorily. BE SURE AND KEEP A SUPPLY OF BOTH STANDARD AND CUSTOM ORDER SHEETS ON HAND ALL THE TIME. WHEN USING SPECIAL AND CUSTOM ORDER BLANK IN ORDERING SPECIALS ALWAYS MARK AN "X" OPPOSITE THE SPECIAL MEASUREMENT DESIRED.
112. Be sure and mark down the amount of cash enclosed. If any credit is due you on previous dealings tell the exact amount. Great care should also be taken in writing out your express office and your post office address in full where you want your order and next mail sent. We must also insist upon full name and address in every letter, report and Order Sheet. We occasionally receive orders and remittances without any name or address on same. We are not mind readers. Always sign name just the same as you signed on contract, and state whether Miss or Mrs. If you used initials only an contract do same when ordering and writing us. If you used full name on contract, use full name all the time. If you are married and use your own full name on contract, do not change to your husband's name or initials in your correspondence later, or vice versa. This is confusion to our bookeepers and recorders and may lead to the opening of two accounts with the same person, as we have so many among our many Corsetieres of the same surname. Under no circumstances send in an order on a sheet of paper unless absolutely obliged to do so, as mistakes and omissions are often made in copying the order. In case of mistakes you may not receive the corsets you wish. When we are rushed with orders, those made out on an Order Sheet are given precedence over those made out in a letter or on a sheet of paper.
113. Write all instructions regarding order under remarks on your Order Blank. Never, under any circumstances, write instructions about your order in your letter. Your letter goes to your correspondent and your order goes to the stock room. All things pertaining to the order must be contained on either Standard or Special and Custom Order Blanks.
It is our purpose and desire to give full satisfaction in filling your orders, but the greatest care on our part will not bring the desired results unless you are absolutely accurate and use the greatest possible care in making out your order. If you are out of Order Sheets, a request on a postal card, addressed to us, will bring as many as you need. For further instructions about ordering, read carefully our instructions on Order Blanks and in Catalog.
114. We endeavor to ship goods from our Factory in two weeks from the date we receive the order. This does not mean that you will get goods within two weeks from the day you mail your order. As ours is primarily a Custom Order House we do not keep any goods, not even Standard, in stock, but make them up after we receive the order. You should, therefore, get your order to us as early as possible. You should send in orders from eighteen to twenty days ahead of the date you. expect to deliver. This, as a rule, will allow ample time for the goods to reach you and for any delays which might occur in transportation. Those working west of the Mississippi should order goods at least three or four weeks ahead of the date they wish to deliver. If we are able to do better than this, we will cheerfully do it. Explain to your customers that they cannot buy corsets made strictly to order and get them in only a few days.
115. Special hurry-up orders.—One or two corsets can be rushed through at times in a week or less, but no one person must expect constant accommodations of this kind for if this privilege is abused it detains the regular work of the firm and does injustice to all of our other Corsetieres. You must not ask us, either to rush a large order through. A large order must take its regular course. When this privilege is abused we reserve the right to withdraw it, especially at the height of our Fall and Spring Seasons. Give us all the time you can in addition to the two weeks required at the Factory, and you will be less liable to be disappointed by any delays which might occur through oversight or carelessness of the Express Company for which we are not responsible.
AFTER ORDERING GOODS, DO NOT SIT DOWN AND WAIT FOR THEM TO COME. KEEP AT WORK TAKING ORDERS FOR DELIVERY THREE WEEKS TO ONE MONTH AHEAD. NO TIME NEED BE LOST. DON'T LOSE ANY.