Evening Star Newspaper, January 20, 1932, Page 10

THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, WE ANUARY 20, 1932, “Hello, dear—here’s a little surprise for you.” “Money— goodness knows we need it, but where did you get it?” “Why I earned it, of course.” “How, did you get a raise?” “No, no—not in these days, they just started giving us PMs down at the store. “That's 2 new one on me. What is a PM?” “I thought you knew. A PM is a commission the store gives a clerk for ‘switching’ a customer from the ‘brand’ he asks for to another ‘make’ that couldn’t be sold. This week we've had a drive on the Hokum razor blade—and here’s the money I earned.” ““That’s grand, dear—but how do you get customers to ‘switch’?” “I hate to do it, but I have to tell them the Hokum blade is ‘just as good’ and that I use it myself.” DON'T BLAME HIM-.-HIE NEED THE MONEY “ John, youw'll never go to Heaven if you fib that way—but the extra money will certainly help pay the baby’s doctor bill.” The happy domestic scene shown above gives the bright side of a prac- tice that is not so commendable in its other aspects. But we hope you share our sympathy for the clerk who augments his modest income by insisting that customers accept other “brands” than those demanded. Don’t blame the clerk—he needs the money. As a group, these young men are hard working and courteous. They have their trials and worries like the rest of us. So be fair—and judge them as generously as you would have others judge you. Remember that the commissions they make when they “switch” you from one “brand” to another help pay the doctor, the grocer and all the rest. We're all for the family man who can make himself a little extra money. In fact, substitution as a practice interests us at this time for only one reason. Under ordinary circumstances we would not concern ourselves . with the problem. But—we are determined that nothing shall stop you from trying today’s Gillette blade. Therefore, we have decided to run a series of advertisements ridiculing in light humor the abuses of substitution. Today’s Gillette is of extcaordinary quality—a phenomenal achievement in blade making. We state without reservation it is positively the sharpest, smoothest-shaving blade we have ever produced. We are really excited about it. Its development has been a great experience. Please take our word for it and let nothing prevent you from giving it a trial. We don’t mind if you let them sell you a substitute hot water bottle, hair tonic or pill, but this once let’s insist on the Gillette blade. This suggestion is selfish on our part because we are convinced no clerk could possibly “switch” you once you’ve experienced the extreme satis- faction of shaving with this blade. Try it on our money-back guarantee and experience a revelation. Watch for the advertisements to follow. We hope they will amuse you, as we had a lot of fun preparing them. GILLETTE SAFETY RAZOR COMPANY, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - Gillette RAZOR S ~0>B LADES