Sunday May 27, 2012

What do you think about convenience stores in Japan?

Have Your Say ( 23 )

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23 Comments

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  • -3

    some14some

    They are becoming more realistic about price factor and likely to remain in business (fewer bankruptcies, i guess)

  • -5

    kaminarioyaji

    They have far too many lights on, and need to curb the tachiyomi. I wish there was a bit more variety between them too - About 80% of what they sell is the same as all the other Combinis.

    BTW, their "sandwiches" don't deserve the name.

  • 0

    Foxie

    They are really great. Once you spend time in countries without conbinis, you know how convenient they are. I especially love Lawson's Uchi Cafe line.

  • -1

    smartacus

    I think they are the best in the world, especially in terms of the number of services they offer. My only gripe is that every time they stock a product I like, it's gone after two weeks, replaced by the next new item.

  • -7

    cleo

    They're OK, but their lunch/bento selection isn't very vegetarian-friendly. It's usually a choice between a white-bread tinned-fruit-and buttercream sandwich, a doughnut or an o-nigiri with an umeboshi in the middle. Even the salads come contaminated with bits of chicken, tuna or kani-kamaboko.

    Their most convenient features for me are the takuhai drop-off point and the ATM to my Tokyo bank.

  • 0

    Godan

    Sure you pay a little more, but the service can't be beat IMHO. Don't use them often, but when I do, the workers tend to smile, offer to heat up what I buy, provide chopsticks, spoons, straws, you name it, without having to ask. I think their counterparts in other countries would learn a lot from the service provided here in Japan.

    As Kaminarioyaji, said though, there is a lot of wasted energy though. And I never quite get why they have refrigerator units without doors.

  • -2

    It"S ME

    Love them, use a wide range of their services.

    Plus, I can pay my Utilities there, pick up stuff I ordered online and pay at the store, buy tickets, draw cash from my account and they stock a good variety of stuff that can come in handy like socks, shirts, etc too.

    Some stores also make rather decent hot foods(fried chicken, fries, etc).

  • -4

    paulinusa

    Like the doors.

  • -2

    ukguyjp

    They're convenient.

  • -8

    NetNinja

    They lack creativity but I'm still glad they are there.

  • 0

    zichi

    I love the 24/7 thing, like when I wake up at 3am wanting an ice cream I can just go down the street and score one!

  • -1

    Faceless1

    I think they must all be owned by Nippon Ham. They put ham in everything. You want a chicken sandwich? Its got ham in it! You want a vegetable sandwich? Its got ham in it! You want a salad? Its got bloody ham in it!

    And if you have them put something in the microwave, tell them to halve the time. They seem to believe that I am going to travel back to America before eating and would still like it to be warmish when I get there.

    It would be nice of some of them got rid of the oden. Can't tell you how many times I have been stuck in line by some fool who can't make up their mind what they want in it and eat up my time making choices.

    Complaints aside, they are generally clean and lack any smell (though occaisionally they do smell of bleach or old rags). Very handy for paying the bills. Often happy for a handy toilet when on the road. And also occaisonally happy to be able to get milk at any hour.

  • -8

    ben4short

    Japanese c-stores are complete metaphors and perfect microcosms for everything that is right and wrong about Japanese society. One can learn a great deal about this country by carefully studying this incredible institution.

  • -8

    Pukey2

    Too much junk food. Like supermarkets in Japan, the bread (especially by Yamazaki) is total crap and trans-fat laden (show me something without shortening pleeeeeeze!). As for no vegetarian stuff - this is Japan - nothing's complete here without either ham, katsuobushi and gelatine.

    In one sentence - service great, food crap. And too many of them - there were 5 of them within a 5 minute walking distance from my old apartment, in addition to 3 large supermarkets. They did help me on the night of 3/11 - I bought a toothbrush and toothpaste because I was stuck miles away from home. I also pick up Amazon stuff from the convenience store.

  • -1

    Disillusioned

    What do I think about convenience stores in Japan?

    Um, they are convenient. Coming from Oz where take out alcohol is only sold between 10am and 10pm the 24hr service in Japan is awesome!

    And Pukey, the food in combinis is not junk food. It is actually quite high quality food due to the competition for sales. Unless, you are referring to potato chips, chocolate bars, etc, of course.

  • 3

    JapanGal

    I wish they would stop handing me my bag before they give me my change.

    I also wish they would not put the receipt in my hand and dump the bills on top then the change.

    Inconvenient.

    *****Take my money, give me change, shove the receipt in a bag, then put my goods in it and hand it to me. They do the whole thing backwards. And they are consistent at it at every single store in this country.

  • 0

    sensei258

    I agree with Smartacus, Godan, and It'sme. Truly convenient with all the services and products they offer.

  • -6

    pamelot

    The selection sucks.

  • 1

    Maria

    I think they're fantastic - unparallelled in term of what you can do there: buy basic grocery/drugstore/toiletry items, booze and cigarettes, newspapers and mags... You can pay your bills, use the cash machines, buy concert tickets, re-up your cell phone, send a parcel - all of this 24-hour. Amazing. And I think the service is great, they remember your face and preferences (no bag etc). Can't fault them.

  • 0

    billyshears

    Of course, they are very convenient, provide numerous useful services and have become a part of Japanese culture. Going to a 24-hour 7-11 equivalent at 2 a.m back in Chicago could entail a certain risk factor, but where I live here it's a carefree expedition. For me, that's a big plus. Also, on a personal level, I'd like to see some food stuffs from other countries, but apparently this might interfere with their very efficient stocking system.

  • -2

    Pukey2

    Oh dear, I think I've offended some people. The truth hurts.

    Going to a 24-hour 7-11 equivalent at 2 a.m back in Chicago could entail a certain risk factor,

    That's not due to convenience stores in Japan. That's due to Japan being safer in general.

  • -3

    Pukey2

    Dis:

    And Pukey, the food in combinis is not junk food. It is actually quite high quality food due to the competition for sales. Unless, you are referring to potato chips, chocolate bars, etc, of course

    You do look at the ingredients of the food you buy, right? Bread and cakes - shortening. Onigiri - preservatives and other numbers. Sandwiches - no brown bread and always ham ham ham. I'll admit, salad is healthy. But it sure burns a hole in the wallet.

  • 3

    Maria

    A lot of you are making unreasonable demands - if you want something decent and healthy then be prepared, get it the day before, make your own lunch box, whatever. I agree that the food available in convenience stores is not delicatessen-standard, organic, all-natural fare. It's a bloody convenience store, and as far as food is concerned, the conbini is the lover, not the spouse! It's for a late-night pop-in when the supermarket's shut, or when you need a quick bite to eat on the move. Anyway, you can get bananas, eggs, salad, rice balls. Just don't touch the sandwiches - they raise my blood sugar to ridiculous levels.

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