4 ms·

Honestly these stores add a layer of functionality to Japanese life (along with vending machines) that increases QoL much beyond reasonable expectation. They ha

by reedf1 3y ago

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.

Larrikin 3y ago
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 not actually good and just seems like an extremely easy opportunity for the parent company in the US. All convenience stores in the US are basically terrible except for a few who specialize in super clean bathrooms on road trips and a few north east places that capitalize on the fact that the region produces the best subs in the world. Really feels like 7 will have a Nintendo moment at some point and actually care about profits outside of their home country one day and just clean up.
- fakedang 3y ago
  7-11 in other countries are often owned by franchisee partner chains and groups. It's just that other countries seem to have better standards than the US. 7-11s in Japan, the UAE and in South East Asia are just much better maintained in general than the ones in the US. Often coupled is the fact that these countries often have strict enforcement, and if that's lacking, then a personal sense of responsibility from the owners to not stuff their customers.
- kizunajp 3y ago
  I wonder why that is. In Japan it feels like they actually provide great value for what you're paying. Japan's population is declining so at some point (very soon), Japanese companies in general will have to start paying more attention to their revenues outside Japan.
  - rjzzleep 3y ago
    > Japan's population is declining so at some point (very soon), Japanese companies in general will have to start paying more attention to their revenues outside Japan. I'm talking to you Sony.
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
  - Larrikin 3y ago
    The weird part is, they don't feel like they provide a good value. Family Mart is obviously better and if you can find a grocery store within walking distance of work, it's the obvious choice. But they are still good enough, where if there is any issue, you feel fine giving them your money. There has to be something. Maybe America has just been abused by MBAs for so long.
- wrp 3y ago
  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.
  - seanmcdirmid 3y ago
    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.
- technothrasher 3y ago
  > 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.
  - bojo 3y ago
    That greeting is traditional in Japan regardless of whatever type of store, restaurant, hotel, anything you walk into.
    - technothrasher 3y ago
      I fully recognized it as my problem, not theirs. Just culture shock, really.
  - shagie 3y ago
    > 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. In rural areas, these serve the purpose of the general store of days of yore. Consider https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60082-d10174370-Reviews-Kwik_Trip-Menomonee_Falls_Wisconsin.html https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60082-d101743... It's small grocery/hardware store with a gas station attached. Where the footprint permits, city folks appreciate being able to go one now that the corner stores are less common (and arguably less reputable) and they don't need to go all the way across town to get to a grocery store to buy some fresh fruit and some eggs.
  - nodakai 3y ago
    The greetings are partly intended to prevent shoplifting. "We are aware you entered our store, we are watching you." Well, it's fair to say the "unison" part is a Japanese thing...
tjpnz 3y ago
The around the corner convenience has had a considerable impact on my QoL. Living in New Zealand previously I'd have to get into a car and drive somewhere to get anything done. It annoyed me but I didn't realise how much stress it was adding to my life until I moved to Tokyo. From where I live there are three convenience stores within 2-minutes walking distance. It comes with density which is 10x where I'm from.
kitsunesoba 3y ago
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.

by reedf1 3y ago

Larrikin 3y ago

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 not actually good and just seems like an extremely easy opportunity for the parent company in the US. All convenience stores in the US are basically terrible except for a few who specialize in super clean bathrooms on road trips and a few north east places that capitalize on the fact that the region produces the best subs in the world. Really feels like 7 will have a Nintendo moment at some point and actually care about profits outside of their home country one day and just clean up.

fakedang 3y ago
7-11 in other countries are often owned by franchisee partner chains and groups. It's just that other countries seem to have better standards than the US. 7-11s in Japan, the UAE and in South East Asia are just much better maintained in general than the ones in the US. Often coupled is the fact that these countries often have strict enforcement, and if that's lacking, then a personal sense of responsibility from the owners to not stuff their customers.
kizunajp 3y ago
I wonder why that is. In Japan it feels like they actually provide great value for what you're paying. Japan's population is declining so at some point (very soon), Japanese companies in general will have to start paying more attention to their revenues outside Japan.
- rjzzleep 3y ago
  > Japan's population is declining so at some point (very soon), Japanese companies in general will have to start paying more attention to their revenues outside Japan. I'm talking to you Sony.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
- Larrikin 3y ago
  The weird part is, they don't feel like they provide a good value. Family Mart is obviously better and if you can find a grocery store within walking distance of work, it's the obvious choice. But they are still good enough, where if there is any issue, you feel fine giving them your money. There has to be something. Maybe America has just been abused by MBAs for so long.
wrp 3y ago
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.
- seanmcdirmid 3y ago
  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.
technothrasher 3y ago
> 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.
- bojo 3y ago
  That greeting is traditional in Japan regardless of whatever type of store, restaurant, hotel, anything you walk into.
  - technothrasher 3y ago
    I fully recognized it as my problem, not theirs. Just culture shock, really.
- shagie 3y ago
  > 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. In rural areas, these serve the purpose of the general store of days of yore. Consider https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60082-d10174370-Reviews-Kwik_Trip-Menomonee_Falls_Wisconsin.html https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60082-d101743... It's small grocery/hardware store with a gas station attached. Where the footprint permits, city folks appreciate being able to go one now that the corner stores are less common (and arguably less reputable) and they don't need to go all the way across town to get to a grocery store to buy some fresh fruit and some eggs.
- nodakai 3y ago
  The greetings are partly intended to prevent shoplifting. "We are aware you entered our store, we are watching you." Well, it's fair to say the "unison" part is a Japanese thing...

tjpnz 3y ago

The around the corner convenience has had a considerable impact on my QoL. Living in New Zealand previously I'd have to get into a car and drive somewhere to get anything done. It annoyed me but I didn't realise how much stress it was adding to my life until I moved to Tokyo. From where I live there are three convenience stores within 2-minutes walking distance. It comes with density which is 10x where I'm from.

kitsunesoba 3y ago

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.