【文以载道第二轮】argument65 by飘飘

piaopiao_0512UID: 2440006

TOPIC: ARGUMENT65 - The 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."
WORDS: 412          TIME: 00:29:08          DATE: 2008-8-5 13:05:20

In this argument, the author concludes that their company can increase their profits though discontinuing stocking many of their imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses. To support his assumption, his cites that the five best-selling cheeses at their newest store were all domestic cheeses from Wisconsin. He also points out that a magazine indicates an increasing preference for domestic cheeses among its subscribers. Careful scrutiny, however, reveal it suffer from several unconvincing fallacies.

In the first place, the author asserts that the five best-selling cheeses at their newest store were all domestic cheeses from Wisconsin. However this newest could not represent all the stores in the nation, perhaps domestic cheeses are not sold very well in other stores. What's more the store might be located in Wisconsin, where the supply of domestic cheeses is very to attain, or this new store have a long stable business relationship with domestic supply company in Wisconsin. Finally the best selling cheeses does not mean people like this cheeses or company get profits, it is entirely possible that the advertisement of this store or some discount, low-price policy contribute the selling record. Ignoring such scenarios, the author can not convince me that the company should discontinue stocking many of their imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses based on some unsubstantiated evidence.

Second, the survey conducted by Cheeses of the world magazine can not prove anything; we do not know how many people participated the survey and the information about the subscribers. If the subscribers are not customs but the cheeses salesman or supply company, this survey will be not of value for the author's company. Further more, this magazine could be subscribed by people all over the world, in that case, the respondents who said they prefer domestic cheeses from foreign countries can just be our clients. Without considering any other possibilities, the hasty conclusion that we should discontinuing stocking many of their imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses can only undermine this argument's reliability.

To sum up, this argument lacks credibility. to bolster the conclusion the author must provide data about the subscribers of Cheeses of the world magazine including the number of the subscribers and the professions. To better evaluate the argument I need to be informed the selling condition about domestic cheese all over the nation, and the reason cheeses sold well in Wisconsin, and whether the five best-selling cheeses bring company more profits than other cheeses.