The Great Price War of 1878
A Seattle mercantile firm attempts to win over Snohomish customers by slashing prices in the face of local competition.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Due to the great depression and the extremely low price of goods in the Eastern and California markets, we have bought a large lot of goods and are determined to reduce our prices. Guaranteed against all competition. Dress goods in all the new and elegant shades. The best, cheapest and most fashionable stock ever offered for sale on Puget Sound. 50 pieces of dress goods at 25 cents per yard, former price 37 1/2 cents. A reduction of 25 percent will be noted in our clothing department. A genuine Cheviot suit for $12.50, former price $16.50. An all-wool cassimere suit for $8.50, former price $12.50. Our clothing for durability, beauty in pattern and elegance in style is seldom excelled anywhere, and has never been equalled in this market. An immense assortment of rubber goods, umbrellas, blankets, overshirts and furnishing goods. Send for sample of dress goods. Orders will receive prompt and special attention. Send your orders direct to us. A trial order, or a visit to our store, will convince you that we are selling goods at Eastern prices. The Arcade, Front Street, Seattle, W.T.
“A trial order, or a visit to our store, will convince you that we are selling goods at Eastern prices.”
This 1878 advertisement captures the birth of regional retail competition, where Seattle merchants aggressively targeted Snohomish with 'discount' pricing. It echoes today's e-commerce dominance where local storefronts struggle to compete with global, low-cost supply chains.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.