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A peek into Japan's convenience stores

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Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores

#61

Post by seanmcdirmid »

wrp wrote: post #48
Larrikin wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After living there and coming back I'm still trying to figure out how they get my money when I'm there. In the US it is an obvious choice to not waste your money at 7-11. The gas is more expensive than Sheetz usually, their hotdog like products and terrible pizza have been sitting under a heat lamp for more than a day. And every product there is cheaper elsewhere. But 7 and I holding still is much better. But it's no…

This is from vague memory, but I believe all franchise convenience stores in Japan are run as family businesses. From what I recall, the company demands a strong personal commitment as a condition for getting the franchise. I suppose that's similar to Caterpillar or Chick-fil-A in the USA.

This is how it works if you want to run a 7-11 in china, which I believe is run by Japanese 7-11 corporate. Even though the Japanese 7-11 now owns the American one, I think they franchise differently in the states.

Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores

#62

Post by kitsunesoba »

reedf1 wrote: post #18

Honestly these stores add a layer of functionality to Japanese life (along with vending machines) that increases QoL much beyond reasonable expectation. They have become a bit of a meme, but it's one thing I really miss from my brief time living there. They add affordable right-around-the-corner convenience to every situation, and that you would have to be much more wealthy in another country to expect.

The way they're always open is nice too. Nothing like being able to satisfy 3AM munchies with a 5-10m walk to the nearest conbini.

Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores

#63

Post by betaby »

Reality is a bit sad though - those convenience stories barely survive on tiny margins, owners pay a lot to franchises, must be open as franchise says, pay is terrible. Google would find some articles in English about that.

Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores

#64

Post by bemmu »

anuraaga wrote: post #52
snowman56789 wrote: post #4

Are they joking or is it really so common to spend nights at the office that convenience stores actually sell underwear?!

Underwear is indeed sold but the reason being spending nights at the office is probably mostly joking, hours can get long but not Elon long. The underwear is for all the "Spend the night at xxx" situations you can probably imagine anywhere in the world (pun intended).

You don’t even need a special situation. If I’m at the convini for food, but also happen to need socks/shirt/underwear, and it’s right there, why make a separate trip somewhere else to buy it?

Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores

#65

Post by contingencies »

kbf wrote: post #21

Japanese convenience stores are the real life equivalent of video game save points.

A long-term Thailand resident American friend of mine calls 7-11 The Temple. In either metaphor, it's impressive how much of this experience seems to be associated with the door: upbeat jingle, sigh of relief, flood of air conditioning, plethora of choice in restorative beverages, altered lighting, altered standard of cleanliness, mental zone-out, expectation of slow browse with punctuating transaction ritual.

Considering https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doorway_effect and the recent popularization of WFH, I wonder if interior design for next-gen houses and apartments will have a "save door" or "restore room", and if so whether it will grow out of and/or replace the kitchen or bedroom or lounge or some combination thereof (as kitchens, appliance collections and cooking skills shrink) and whether it will be proximal to the front door or some corner nook, or if a view and thus connectivity to outside spaces would kill it. Feels like it almost has to be a fully enclosed space, like a walk-in wardrobe.

Probably a retail design psychologist could weigh in.

Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores

#66

Post by netsharc »

betaby wrote: post #63

Reality is a bit sad though - those convenience stories barely survive on tiny margins, owners pay a lot to franchises, must be open as franchise says, pay is terrible. Google would find some articles in English about that.

E.g. https://archive.is/www.nytimes.com/2021/04/30/business/japan...

Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores

#67

Post by zemvpferreira »

xyzzy123 wrote: post #55

I would love to know how Japanese convenience stores can be stocked - even in out of the way places - with fresh, nutritious-ish food that isn't super expensive. I feel like there must be a huge and hidden (to me) supply chain to make this happen and that's the real story, have never seen this explained anywhere. Most countries you just get "shelf stables", which implies this "invisible thing" is missing. The stores…

Not specific to Japan (rather, the US) but this book might be a good read if you're into that sort of stuff. I imagine there are more similarities than differences:

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Groceries-American-Superm...

Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores

#68

Post by bananatype »

wsc981 wrote: post #30

Seems it's the same with the 7-Eleven's and (I assume) FamilyMart's in Thailand as well. I know in 7-Eleven in Thailand it's possible to get car insurance, buy airplane tickets, probably concert tickets, etc... And also open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. I'm quite happy our village in Thailand recently got their own 7-Eleven. And it looks like excellent business for the people that started the franchise in our vil…

In the Philippines, you can pay for your bills on any 7-11 store: electricity, water, phone, cable TV, internet, even pay for ship or plane tickets (because not many Filipinos own credit cards).

Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores

#69

Post by 5e92cb50239222b »

bananatype wrote: post #68
wsc981 wrote: post #30

Seems it's the same with the 7-Eleven's and (I assume) FamilyMart's in Thailand as well. I know in 7-Eleven in Thailand it's possible to get car insurance, buy airplane tickets, probably concert tickets, etc... And also open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. I'm quite happy our village in Thailand recently got their own 7-Eleven. And it looks like excellent business for the people that started the franchise in our vil…

In the Philippines, you can pay for your bills on any 7-11 store: electricity, water, phone, cable TV, internet, even pay for ship or plane tickets (because not many Filipinos own credit cards).

You were hellbanned years ago, so sadly a lot of your comments about life in the Philippines have been in vain. You might want to reach out to HN, maybe some sort of automation fucked up.

Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores

#70

Post by technothrasher »

Larrikin wrote: post #31
reedf1 wrote: post #18

Honestly these stores add a layer of functionality to Japanese life (along with vending machines) that increases QoL much beyond reasonable expectation. They have become a bit of a meme, but it's one thing I really miss from my brief time living there. They add affordable right-around-the-corner convenience to every situation, and that you would have to be much more wealthy in another country to expect.

After living there and coming back I'm still trying to figure out how they get my money when I'm there. In the US it is an obvious choice to not waste your money at 7-11. The gas is more expensive than Sheetz usually, their hotdog like products and terrible pizza have been sitting under a heat lamp for more than a day. And every product there is cheaper elsewhere. But 7 and I holding still is much better. But it's no…

> All convenience stores in the US are basically terrible

I've noticed a recent trend of gas stations here in the US starting to have upscale convenience stores attached to them, with more upscale products, clean bathrooms, actual quality food, made to order sandwich counters, etc.

As for Japan, the only convenience store I went into in Tokyo, I got freaked out when all the employees stopped and greeted me in unison. I can see it was meant to be welcoming, but it made me very uncomfortable and I left.

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