Sam Setter’s Lime Blast in your April issue speaks about honesty in our trade. He is quite right; trading ethics have deteriorated considerably during the last years. However, it is not only the fault of unscrupulous sellers, but also buyers are to be blamed to some extent when, through carelessness, they encourage sellers’ unethical behaviour.
Any respectable tanner, merchant, broker, etc, before entering into a relationship with a new supplier goes to a great length to make sure that he will deal with serious people, thus reducing to the minimum the risk of default or fradulent practices.
Unfortunately, lured by the fictitious possibility of big profits, this essential precaution is disregarded by many, therefore, exposing themselves too easily to the dishonesty discribed by Sam Setter. No business is 100% fool-proof, but the risk of becoming the victim of such dishonesty can be minimised considerably by using good old common-sense and traditional business methods by investigating thoroughly any new contacts.
Dieter Mankiewitz
