From: masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masuda)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Delivery of Merchandise (was Re: Japanese employees and consumers)
Date: 19 Nov 92 02:34:07 GMT
Article-I.D.: ncifcrf.Bxxz4w.7zr
Organization: Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center

In article <1992Nov17.184352.4198@island.COM> fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) writes:
>In article <HARKCOM.92Nov16120723@spinach.pa.yokogawa.co.jp> harkcom@spinach.pa.yokogawa.co.jp (Alton Harkcom) writes:
>>In article <7444@bigbird.hri.com.hri.com> blamb@hri.com (Bill Lambert) writes:
.....
>> =}I've also had
>> =}home appliances installed when *I* wanted (which was off 9-5 hours).
>>
>>   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.
.....
>>  Some companies will let you specify afternoon or
>>evening for delivery as they run a morning route and an afternoon
>>route.  However these companies are usually more expensive (large
>>department stores and such)...  I have only dealt with one company
>>that would let me schedule a possible delivery for hours outside the
>>9-5 range.  They agreed to bring my delivery last as I lived near their
>>center.  It took about 20 minutes of begging over the telephone to
>>get them to do this...

>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.

   Some comments from a Japanese point of view.

[1] The "flexibility" of the delivery schedule is often an unavoidable
    result of horrible traffic conditions especially in Tokyo area.
    If some company gives an exact time for a delivery, I'd wonder
    if the company is really trustworthy.

[2] In some cases, you can include the delivery (and installation when
    necessary) a part of negotiation. For example, you could say,
    "If you can deliver it Saturday morning, I might consider buying
    it." At least, it worked before at Akihabara for home appliances.

[3] If you really expect on-time delivery, deal with a local (and
    small) retailer. This way, you can avoid the flexibility due to
    the bad traffic. The reason why I added "small" is that
    some large retailers arrange delivery for several customers by
    one vehicle, which causes "flexibility". You can expect that a small
    retailer delivers only for you. (I should mention that you may not 
    be able to expect the best deal in terms of price.)

[4] Pick up a right season. In December, all the department stores are
    gone crazy delivering "oseibo" (end-of-year gift). You might have to
    wait for your furniture even for two weeks. Summer, a season for 
    "ochuu-gen" (summer gift), would be another time that you might
    want to avoid.

   I don't know what made the three netters have different experiences,
but there may be something that is related to one of the above.

   Any more suggestions from anyone?

--Michiaki
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan