Argument 213:
The following appeared in a memorandum from the owner of Amchair Video, a chain of video rental stores.
“Because of declining profits, we must reduce operating expenses of Amchair video’s ten video rental stores. Raising price is not a good option, since we are famous for our special bargains. Instead, we should reduce our operating hours. Last month our store in downtown Martson reduced its hours by closing at 6:00 P.M. rather than 9:00 P.M. and reduced its overall inventory by no longer stocking any film released more than two years ago. Since we have received very few customer complaints about these new policies, we should now adopt them at all other Amchair Video stores as our best strategies for improving profits.”
In this argument, the author reaches the recommendation that Amchair Video, which is a chain of video rental stores, should now adopt new policies of reducing operating hours at all amchair video stores as their beat strategies for improving profits. To support his argument, the author cites the example concerning customers’ complaints after downtown Martson store’s executing the new strategies. However, careful scrutiny reveals it a unconvincing one, thus the recommendation the author reaches is invalid.
First of all, this argument relies on the threshold assumption that reducing operating expenses would inevitably contribute to the improving of profits. Unfortunately, the author quotes no evidence to substantiate it. Perhaps after its reducing operating expenses, quality of Amchair video’s services, which we doubt, is likely to drop. Then, fewer and fewer customers would like to come, which leads to the decline in Amchair Video’s sales. Therefore, the profits are faced to the danger of decreasing.
Secondary, even concede that reducing operating expenses would inevitably lead to increasing profits; however, we see no hope to achieve it by reducing operating hours. Salaries of the staff are not likely to be reduced simply by the excuse of reducing operating hours. At the same time, rents of products are no doubt to be decreased, which consequently again results in the decline in profits.
Thirdly, the evidence the author cites is not convincing as it stands. Customers’ very few complaints do not necessarily mean that there are only few people who are unsatisfied with this policy. Perhaps there are a number of people who hate this disgusted policy but keep silent, and simply resist it by rejecting to come again until Amchair Video come back to its original strategies. Therefore, the total number of our customers will be reduced. What’s more? Even assuming that store in downtown Martson does improve its profits; it may due to other possible factors, e.g. it locates in downtown area. However, we can not assure that every store of ours locates in downtown areas.
The last but not the least, the author falsely assumes that reducing operating hours is the best way to improve profits. Even concede that the strategy may have some positive effects on improving profits; however, the author reaches the conclusion too hastily. There are other possible ways which would necessarily contribute to the improving of profits as well. For instance, he can try the method of renewing his films, especially by newly produced films, to attract more customers. What’s more? He could sell some of the films which released more than two years ago, etc.
To sum up, this argument is unconvincing since it is based on unsound reasoning. To make to more persuasive, the author should make it certain that the decline in profits is mainly due to Amchair Video’s long working hours. A investigate is also needed to get more detail information concerning customers’ attitude towards the author’s strategy. Finally, to better evaluate the argument, we need more information about our other stores’ condition to show whether those stores would benefit as the store in downtown Martson.作者: yuemingjushi 时间: 2005-8-2 21:15:30
没人看？作者: monkeydry 时间: 2005-8-4 12:31:30
argument213
Argument 213:
The following appeared in a memorandum from the owner of Amchair Video, a chain of video rental stores.
“Because of declining profits, we must reduce operating expenses of Amchair video’s ten video rental stores. Raising price is not a good option, since we are famous for our special bargains. Instead, we should reduce our operating hours. Last month our store in downtown Martson reduced its hours by closing at 6:00 P.M. rather than 9:00 P.M. and reduced its overall inventory by no longer stocking any film released more than two years ago. Since we have received very few customer complaints about these new policies, we should now adopt them at all other Amchair Video stores as our best strategies for improving profits.”
In this argument, the author reaches the recommendation that Amchair Video, which is a chain of video rental stores, should now adopt new policies of reducing operating hours at all amchair video stores as their beat strategies for improving profits. To support his argument, the author cites the example concerning customers’ complaints after downtown Martson store’s executing the new strategies. However, careful scrutiny reveals it a unconvincing one, thus the recommendation the author reaches is invalid.
First of all, this argument relies on the threshold assumption that reducing operating expenses would inevitably contribute to the improving of profits. Unfortunately, the author quotes no evidence to substantiate it. Perhaps after its reducing operating expenses, quality of Amchair video’s services, which we doubt, is likely to drop. Then, fewer and fewer customers would like to come, which leads to the decline in Amchair Video’s sales. Therefore, the profits are faced to the danger of decreasing.
Secondary(ly), even concede that reducing operating expenses would inevitably lead to increasing profits; however, we see no hope to achieve it by reducing operating hours. Salaries of the staff are not likely to be reduced simply by the excuse of reducing operating hours. At the same time, rents of products are no doubt(ful) to be decreased, which consequently again results in the decline in profits.
Thirdly, the evidence the author cites is not convincing as it stands. Customers’ very few complaints do not necessarily mean that there are only few people who are unsatisfied with this policy. Perhaps there are a number of people who hate this disgusted policy but keep silent, and simply resist it by rejecting to come again until Amchair Video come back to its original strategies. Therefore, the total number of our customers will be reduced. What’s more? Even assuming that store in downtown Martson does improve its profits; it may due to other possible factors, e.g. it locates in downtown area. However, we can not assure that every store of ours locates in downtown areas.
The last but not the least, the author falsely assumes that reducing operating hours is the best way to improve profits. Even concede that the strategy may have some positive effects on improving profits; however, the author reaches the conclusion too hastily. There are other possible ways which would necessarily contribute to the improving of profits as well. For instance, he(? 必须用的话应该加or she,老美很重视sexual discrimination^_^) can try the method of renewing his films, especially by newly produced films, to attract more customers. What’s more? He could sell some of the films which released more than two years ago, etc.
To sum up, this argument is unconvincing since it is based on unsound reasoning. To make to(deleted) more persuasive, the author should make it certain that the decline in profits is mainly due to Amchair Video’s long working hours. A investigate(verb) is also needed to get more detail(ed) information concerning customers’ attitude towards the author’s strategy. Finally, to better evaluate the argument, we need more information about our other stores’ condition to show whether those stores would benefit as the store in downtown Martson.
总体而言很不错,就是一些细节再完善就更好了:)作者: yuemingjushi 时间: 2005-8-4 19:57:00