many sets of drawers are provided as
will correspond with the number of months letters may be preserved.
Separate files may also be kept (usually alphabetical by name) for
filing letters, such as those where customers have forgotten to give
size, color, or measurements, where they have overlooked enclosing
samples, or any omission or circumstance which may cause customers to be
written to and their orders held for further information, or orders that
may have any balance holding to credit, etc.

The filing must be very accurately done, as constant reference is made,
and it is of the utmost importance that any correspondence required
shall be found with the greatest despatch.

Special Orders.

A special effort should be made to have the system so arranged that it
will enable the mail-order department, as well as every other department
in connection with the house, to know how many orders are partly bought
and holding for goods which have been ordered that are not in stock, or
that require to be made. The buyer who finds anything asked for on an
order which a department cannot supply at once (and no checks should be
taken unless the order can be filled promptly) should give someone
appointed by each department full particulars of what is required, the
number of the order, name of customer, description, size, or
measurements of goods to be made or procured. When everything is bought,
with these exceptions, the order should be then handed to a special
mail-order clerk, who should note what is lacking to complete the order,
and in a set of special department files (space being provided for each
department) should place the holding order. He should visit the
different departments, ascertaining particulars concerning each order,
find out what efforts are being made to fill the same, and crowd these
orders to completion, where necessary, writing customers explaining any
cause of delay. As each department secures the goods required, the mail
order department should be notified immediately, when the order may be
quickly produced from its department file, check made out and order
completed. It is easy to ascertain at any time through such a system
exactly what goods each department lacks, and direct such efforts as
will provide for the least possible lack of stock and the least possible
delay in executing orders.

Returned Goods, Exchanges, and Complaints.

A separate section should be devoted to returned good