Shopping in Newcastle. A shopkeeper has waited upon us to say, that our paragraph on this subject last week was not half severe enough. He informs us that the practice of shopping in Newcastle has become very common of late among Shields people, and he thinks this so deleterious to Shields interests, that he has actually offered us five shillings to expose the system in detail. Premising that we have not accepted the said bribe, and that we are speaking our own honest sentiments, we beg to say, that we think the practice in question is deleterious to Shields interests, and therefore we wish it stopped. Our friend instanced to us various articles which to his knowledge had been purchased in Newcastle, but which he knew could have been had at less cost in Shields with credit, instead of having to pay for them with ready money, and the expenses of travelling saved besides. Our friend said that parties who made their money in Shields should spend it there, and we really think they should. It is difficult, however to make them do so, and it is doubtful whether, even such inducements are held out for them as really ought to be in common prudence. If the shopkeepers of Shields, would only give us credit for being disinterested in our communication, we could let them into a bit of a secret. THEY DON'T ADVERTISE SUFFICIENTLY IN THE TYNE PILOT; and that is probably the reason why they don't obtain more customers among their own townsmen than they do. The Newcastle shopkeepers, more sensible than they, advertise not only in the paper of their own town, but often in ours and that is the reason why they get on so much better. Some again of our townsmen are so stupid and silly, that they advertise at times in Newcastle papers and occasionally not with us at all! We make no complaint of this but we say they are foolish, if they expect Newcastle people to come down and purchase of them; and if they do not take the proper means to make their own townsmen purchase of them whom, have they but themselves to blame. Goods cheap and at hand, properly made known as such, will in the long run, be sure to preferred to those which are dear and at a distance.

Extract from the Tyne Pilot 13/5/1842

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