Japanese Newspapers FIGHT!

This afternoon, in the span of literally ten minutes or so, two separate newspaper salesmen pounded on my front door, trying to sell me a subscription. Last year, we had a subscription for Yomiuri Shimbun, but didn’t renew it last fall. Yet, every morning, we still get a copy of the Yomiuri Shimbun.

(Perhaps the subscription sales people and paper boy aren’t good at communicating?! Perhaps Yomiuri is hoping we’ll renew our subscription?!)

We originally didn’t even really want a subscription, but the Yomiuri newspaper salesman offered us, from what I remember, a free case of beer, a gift pack of curry, cookies and a big book of coupons — plus, one month free to “try the newspaper out.”

Today’s newspaper salesmen were from two other Japanese papers. Both had really wanted to sell subscriptions. I told them that we were already getting the Yomiuri Shimbun (didn’t have the heart to say it was for free!). Neither were willing to offer free beer or curry. That is more of a Yomiuri thing.

However, they were willing to offer two months free. They didn’t seem eager, but rather, desperate.

What you missed last night