( Originally Published Late 1800's ) One of the worst customs
that has crept into mercantile trade may be designated by the
phrase " double dealing." Goods are placed upon the shelves and
exposed for sale. The prices asked for them are supposed to be
at a certain fair percentage above the actual cost price in the
wholesale market, and it would seem to be good business ethics
and the part of honorable dealing to sell these goods at the
same price to all who should come to buy ; but we find the
opposite to be the case. The prices are fixed by the salesmen to
suit the customers with whom they are dealing; and it often
happens, that one man buys a given article for one dollar,
perhaps, and in fifteen minutes thereafter the same salesmen
sells a similar article to another man for one dollar and
fifteen cents. This kind of double dealing is very widely
practiced among business men and every man who expects to pay
cash for what he buys and not enter into special negotiations in
the purchase of an article, is quite g