Spring issue DGJ
 

Excellent article, well researched and very well written as well, about the Gildersleeve B-Grade Parker Underlifter by Mr. Wheaton. On page 47- the price was $225 with a price allowance of $50.00 Was that a discount, or perhaps did Mr. Gildersleeve trade a lower grade Parker on this fine high grade hammer gun? This is the first article I have read written by Mr. Wheaton, and I hope it will not be the last. Well done indeed, Sir!!

I look forward to each issue of DGJ and Mr. Wheaton has authored many fine articles in past issues. I'm sure this one will uphold his skill as a writer and researcher.

Price allowences were often given by PB, both in dollar amounts and percentages. Dollar amounts were commonly given to favored customers and shooters who shot Parker guns in competitive events. Percentage discounts were given to dealers, often in steps. The reason for discounts are almost never stated in PB orders.

What Murphy said!

I have a 30" 20ga., no safety, straight grip that was given "compliments of Parker Bros.", as per the letter, to Mr. W.R. Crosby. The ultimate discount I'd say. Pretty neat.

My 1916 DH, sold to a dealer in Watertown, NY, was priced at $90.75 less "special" discounts of 10-10-5. This should have come to a net of $69.83. Price paid was $68.44. Go figure.

Dealer discounts such as the stepped discounts mentioned by Mr. Zachow, were, in my opinion, the downfall of Parker Brothers. Dealers who had no blood in the production of Parker guns made much more profit on individual guns than did Parker Brothers. Some of the stepped discounts were brutal, like 25-10-10-5. This would mean that a $100 DH grade gun would sell to that dealer for $57.72 or $50.00, depending on how the discount was calculated. The dealer, in turn, could sell the gun for $100, meaning up to a 100% profit at the retail level. Conversely, Parker Brothers would be left with little or no profit after actually manufacturing the DH grade gun. In addition, at certain times in their history, Parker Brothers gave or lent many guns to their faithful competitors as well as allowing their paid salesmen like Captain Dubray to donate guns for prizes at competitive events. On a similar subject, when a certain type or configuration became dated, quantities of these guns were closed out to volume dealers at prices as low as $19.00. Chuck has probably seen order book entries for guns priced even lower.

How about $50 each for a pair of Grade 6 10 ga. lifters on the same order with many other Parkers of lower grade to a Boston gun dealer....? Now that's a good discount!!

$50 was the sale price, not the discount amount.

Bill Z.---I'm guessing that discrepancy was an additional 2% allowance granted for early payment on an invoice. I'm sure someone here can verify but I wouldn't be at all surprised if Parker Bros. extended 2% 10, net 30 or 2% 30, net 31 payment terms to their larger distributors. And any wholesaler who failed to take advantage of that so called "anticipation" discount would more than likely be reading 'Chapter 7' very quickly. Brutal business.