Warming Up

Hot after the elusive sales dollar, retailers warmed up some selling stunts last week:

P: In Los Angeles, some camera stores were lending cameras to anyone who would buy film. When customers call for their prints, the stores give them a friendly sales talk, applaud the good shots, constructively criticize the poor ones, often talk them into buying cameras.*

P: In The Bronx, Tri-Boro Motors Inc. offered an allowance of $500 "on any truck that will run, creep or crawl into our lot," or $300 on any horse, mule or goat traded in on the purchase of a new Ford truck.

P: In Beverly Hills, an airlines luggage shop offered "luggage for rent" at $10 for 15 days or less.

P: In Boston, some stores were selling fur coats with an offer to refund the 20% excise tax if & when Congress repeals it.

P: In Manhattan, Henry Modell pushed his idea for an "AntiDepression Week." Modell, head of a chain of sporting-goods stores, has persuaded 2,200 retailers across the country to cut their prices an extra 10% from Aug. 22 to Aug. 27.

* One patron of the Bleitz Camera Co. started out on a loan basis, ended up buying $1,000 worth of equipment.

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