Today I learned that Yahoo is creating an Internet Time Capsule. That is a great news. Our future generations can get a chance to see how the world existed in the year 2006. Anybody worldwide can contribute writings, pictures, videos, audios about his country to this time capsule.

Yahoo will accept contributions upto November 8. However, when I checked the Yahoo Internet Time Capsule website, I was disappointed to see contributions mainly from Americans and Mexicans. Even very few people from Japan have contributed so far. So please spread the word to your countrymen and contribute to this big project in 2006.

Technorati Tags: Yahoo, time capsule, Japan

Are Japanese used cars not welcomed in the world countries? Yes, for government authorities, but for many people, the demands of Japanese cars is high. This is because Japanese used cars usually have low mileage and are in good condition, in spite of old models. Although Japanese used cars are recognized in the world, local factories do not produce such old models that are requested by users. Regulation of each country varies on its conditions : Some countries categorize Japanese used cars as “hobby,” when they admit importing old vehicles. On the contrary, countries without factory allow importing used cars only late model. There are more vehicles with left-handled than right-handled in world wide, thus many counties limit importing right-handled for safety purposes.
In developing countries, short of transportation facilities in addition to lacks foreign currency restrict importing foreign vehicles. Consequently, the price of vehicles becomes more expensive by the time they reach the market. While large enterprises seek market where they sell numbers of vehicles, small companies use different selling strategies. It is fun to talk about these strategies with entrepreneurs because some of them export vehicles to wild countries.

Exporting car parts is easier because it has less restriction. Usually exporters send them in a container. It is profitable, but packing up all those parts is hassle. For this reason some exporters send vehicle and parts in a same container.

Technorati Tags: Japanese, used cars, Japanese cars, vehicles, importing, exporters

Many Japanese people have strange prejudice towards foreigners. Since we belong to an island country, there is surely a great cultural difference between the thinking of Japanese and people of other countries.  For example, a Japanese feels uneasy to apologize to a person of other country - where he is at a fault. That is because even though he admits the fault, the foreigners try to take advantage of the situation by claiming more than the real fault.

But I personally think it nonsense to distinguish a person by nationality. Whenever there are any claims by an angry customer, I go through the case personally and correspond sincerely with the customer.

Used cars are little tricky goods. Even though they are purchased after careful inspection, some faults may be discovered later.  Therefore, when there is any fault in the car, I do not make any excuses; instead when the claim is reasonable, I correspond sincerely. But in case a customer makes unreasonable demands which are beyond our control, I’ll be forced to fight.

I am not doing a one time business, and I believe in retaining customers through customer satisfaction. In fact, if you wish to be my personal friend who continues for a long time, I always welcome such opportunities for friendship seriously.

Technorati Tags: Japanese, prejudice, foreigners, cultural difference, Used cars, friendship