NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/soc/culture/japan/11273

Internet Message Format | 1992-11-23 | 2.7 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!noc.near.net!hri.com!blamb
From: [e-mail] (Bill Lambert)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Japanese employees and consumers [long reply with tangents]
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 23 Nov 92 18:59:25 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: Horizon Research, Inc.
Lines: 49
Nntp-Posting-Host: rodan.hri.com


=> >In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
=> >(Bill Lambert) writes:
=> >
=> > =}I've also had
=> > =}home appliances installed when *I* wanted (which was off 9-5 hours).

=> In article <[e-mail]>
=> [e-mail] (Alton Harkcom) writes:
=>
=> >   This is truly amazing.  Most delivery outfits run on very 'flexible'
=> >schedules and don't even know when they will be in your area to
=> >deliver.  At most companies they give you a date of delivery which you
=> >can change to a later date.  On the day, you must be at home until they
=> >deliver.  This can sometimes mean staying at home all until early
=> >evening....

<explanation about delivery service experience in Japan deleted>

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Mike Fester) writes:
=> I'd have to agree with Mr Harckom on this. At least, the various department
=> stores in Kichijouji were like this. And, for a sofa-bed I ordered, there was
=> a one-week wait for delivery (even though the item was in stock). Now, those
=> operations that deal in USED appliances, etc, are more flexible, at least in
=> my experience.

I don't think a one week wait for delivery, even for in-stock items,
is very unusual at all. At least here in Boston... dealing with
various furniture and appliance companies. Two weeks is average.
If this is an example of how U.S. service is better, I disagree.

=> >In Summary:  Japanese companies seek the same thing (profits) as US
=> >companies do.  They also use the same methods (trampling) to attain
=> >it...  One can find exceptions in both countries, but these exceptions
=> >don't a rule make :)

=> I'd have to agree here. I'll give  BIG edge to Japan in overall service, esp
=> at the larger (more expensive) department stores, most restaurants, etc, but
=> after that, in reality, it's a wash.

Mike gives a big edge in overall service, which agrees with me, and then
states that he agrees with Al, who doesn't agree with me. Anyway, in
another post I agreed with Al's point somewhat, which really wasn't
disagreeing with myself, but actually agreeing with Mike Fester, who
agrees with Al, but also agrees with me somewhat, even though he said
he agrees with Al.

- Bill