Argument65[AWER小组]

Betty210UID: 2398827

65The following appeared in a memo from the president of a chain of cheese stores located throughout the United States.

"For many years all the stores in our chain have stocked a wide variety of both domestic and imported cheeses. Last year, however, the five best-selling cheeses at our newest store were all domestic cheddar cheeses from Wisconsin. Furthermore, a recent survey by Cheeses of the World magazine indicates an increasing preference for domestic cheeses among its subscribers. Since our company can reduce expenses by limiting inventory, the best way to improve profits in all of our stores is to discontinue stocking many of our varieties of imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses."
2008-2-3       time:16:52-18:26    words:535

At first glance, the president’s conclusion seems to be quite sound. According to his conclusion, a chain of cheese stores should limit inventory and stop stocking imported cheese, thus their company will reduce expenses and improve profits in all stores. But unfortunately, if we make a careful consideration of his or her evidence, doubt will be cast on this conclusion.

To begin with, the president cites the fact that the five best-selling cheeses in their newest store were all domestic cheddar cheeses from Wisconsin, but this fact cannot infer that this kind of domestic cheeses is more popular than imported ones. It is entirely possible that these newest store carried out a plan to promote this cheeses, many consumers, of course,  are likely to buy this cheeses, or that the customers are curious about those newest store, the mass selling cheeses is a temporary phenomenon. Either is the case, the president’s inference will be undermined.

In addition, even if the all domestic cheddar cheeses from Wisconsin are indeed well sold, basis on this, the conclusion that domestic cheddar would be welcome in nationwide is unsubstantiated. Since this domestic cheddar cheeses from Wisconsin is one kind of the domestic cheeses. Success in selling such cheeses did not apply to the nationwide. Perhaps residents who live around the newest store are favor of this domestic cheddar cheeses. No evidence is provided the president’s argument cannot convince me as it stands.

Similarly, aside from the best selling cheeses, the president cites a survey showing that the subscribers of Cheeses of the World magazine prefer to domestic cheeses. When we probe the result of this survey, we may find even bigger flaws in this survey. First, the president fails to tell me how many subscribers are the people who consume domestic cheeses. Subscribers might be interested in magazine rather than buy cheeses. Second, whether the responders are representative of the whole consumer in this country. If the responders are only stand for a tiny proportion of the all cheeses consumers. If those are the facts, we should not be so sure about this result of survey.
Finally, the president blindly suggests that in all of their stores is to discontinue stocking many of varieties of imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses, so that the company would reduce expense and improve profits. Yet the president overlooks other factors that equally affect the expense. The cost of  stocking domestic cheeses is not told. Maybe the cost of only stocking domestic cheeses offset the discontinued imported cheeses. And, the way of improving profits involves many other factors, such as the management, effective, and the quality of staff. Thus, the conclusion is unjustified and unilateral, I cannot accept it.

After pointing so many unreasonable flaws in the argument, now we can say that the reasons used to bolster the conclusion cannot be justifiable. To convince me the president must inform me that the domestic cheeses are popular than imported cheeses and sell it would be success in all of stores. And the more details about the survey should be suggested. To support this conclusion the president also provides that the proposal of concentrating on stocking domestic cheeses would beneficial in company.