Now Xora interrupted, "I need a garment which is in the store building of No. 1 east. Let us go there."
I found this store impressive. Mr. Amony explained that the other ninety-nine stores were of similar size, but carried different articles. They received, stored, delivered, and distributed all foods and merchandise and other necessities and luxuries for all the inhabitants of Amboria.
These buildings were sixty stories high. The first ten stories in each of these hundred buildings were used for shopping, display, individual ordering, and disposing of merchandise to shoppers. Each floor had its own exclusive kind of merchandise.
Going up the moving stairway to the first floor, we landed in front of a slowly moving, large, circular inside platform twenty-five feet wide, which went on the floor around the full size of the building. On both sides of this platform were plush rope rails with many openings and provided with comfortable seats. An attendant at each opening helped people off and on.
Alongside this moving platform was a stationary floor of twenty-five feet in width for walkers. We sat on a seat for three on the moving platform, and were taken around to see the beautiful displays on dummies and on beautiful living models. Each side of the floor showed its own special variety of displays. My feeling was that the ladies on Mars were no different from ours insofar as feminine finery was concerned.
From the moving platform to the show cases was a ten foot stationary floor, where the distributors and recipients were sitting on comfortable seats and were being shown different articles and negotiating transfers. As we were nearing a special display, Xora left us sitting, and lightly stepped off the platform. During her absence, Mr. Amony gave me some information.
"The attendants in our merchandising department are called merchandise distributors, not salespeople. We have no high pressure employees. Our distributive system is more simple than yours, which I have seen through television. We do not advertise. We have no bargain sales or substituting. Our attendants are courteous. The people they serve give them courtesy in return.
"We try not to strain the patience of our distributors. We provide comfortable seats for them. Your salespeople spend hours on their feet. The high pressure selling methods induce nervous tension and fatigue. They become old before their time.
"After the day's work is over, our distributors are not worried whether they have sold the day's quota or have made a commission. They are not afraid of losing their jobs or having their salaries reduced, because of a shortage in merchandise. We have no shoplifters or detectives in our stores."
By this time Xora had returned from her shopping. We thanked Mr. Amony for his kind services and departed. As we approached the plane parking ground, I suggested that we fly to the center lake, as I wanted very much to hear the symphony orchestra which was playing about this time. At the same time, I took her hand and held it firmly but very tenderly. She blushed deeply, but her return pressure gave me my answer.