Automatic Age

82
March, 1941
AUTOMATIC AGE
STABILIZE OPERATING PROBLEMS thru
ASSOCIATION SELF - GOVERNMENT
By LEROY STEIN
Manager, Amusement Board of Trade
of New Jersey, Inc.
OUR article, “ Arbitration
Committee o r G l a s s
House,” in the February
issue of the A u t o m a t i c A g e , is
indicative of the stabilization of
the industry so arduously fol­
lowed by trade associations
within the coin machine in­
dustry.
Such an incident which you
describe is impossible of per­
formance among members of a
well organized and efficiently
conducted association, under the
guidance of a competent and
paid association executive.
It has been my happy experi­
ence to formulate the rules and
regulations of the Cigarette
Merchandisers Association, the
Interstate Cigarette Merchan­
disers Association, the National
Cigarette Merchandisers Asso­
ciation, the Automatic Music
Association of New Jersey, the
Amusement Board of Trade of
New Jersey, Inc., and similar
organizations in Massachusetts,
Connecticut, New York, Wash­
ington, D. C., Perth Amboy, N.
J., Asbury Park, N. J., Trenton,
N. J., Philadelphia, Cleveland,
Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Birm­
ingham, Alabama, and one in
Florida.
Y
Impartial Arbitration
Committee
In each o f these places where
the Code of Fair Trade Prac­
tices was adopted, alleged and
real differences relative to dis­
putes concerning locations were
satisfactorily adjusted through
the administration of an impar­
tial arbitration committee, com­
posed of the operator members
of the relative associations.
The establishment o f a board
of arbitration has served suc­
cessfully to erradicate any mis­
understanding among the opera­
tors, while the adoption of the
Code of Fair Trade Practices
in its observance has already
raised the morale of the busi­
ness and afforded greater oper­
ating profit.
This is due to the sound basic
principles of the recognition of
the association locations and the
ethical conduct of members in
soliciting, servicing anu main­
taining such locations, with the
result that in such localities
where this is observed the in­
dustry has risen to the level of
other organized businesses.
The services of a legal staff,
plus the advice and counsel of
a qualified business manager,
available at all times, has been
a deterent of such an incident
as to which you refer.
Public Relations Program
This is made possible through
the institution of a vigorous
P u b l i c Relations Program,
which includes publicising all
automatic merchandising dis­
pensers and amusement devices,
the introduction of new and
profitable models, the value of
the association, its services, co­
operation with similar associa­
tions, exchange of ideas and
© International Arcade Museum
plans among such associations,
creating good will among job­
bers, distributors, and manufac­
turers, and affiliation with civic
and professional societies for
the elevation of the coin ma­
chine industry.
The Board of Arbitration,
usually a rotating one, composed
of new members periodically or
for each new complaint, must
not only ajudicate, but base its
decisions with the objectives and
purposes of the association in
mind.
In every case, the objectives
of the associations which it has
been my pleasure to assist, in­
cludes fostering trade and com­
merce in the coin machine busi­
ness; reforming abuses relative
thereto; diffusing accurate in­
formation in regard to the
standing of the customers and
other matters; procuring uni­
formity and certainty in the
customs and usages of trade;
settling equitable and just dif­
ferences between its members;
and promoting a more enlarged
and friendly intercourse among
coin machine vendors; holding
meetings and social gatherings
for the better realization of
these purposes; promoting a
better understanding and rela­
tionship of its members toward
each other and their customers;
creating a Code of Fair Com­
petition in the operation of
automatic vendors and amuse­
ment devices, as well as ex­
changing such information as
http://www.arcade-museum.com/