达人 2.5 A65(429)

daidarenUID: 2354215

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: 429
TIME: 00:30:00
DATE: 2010-2-5 10:51:32

In this memo, the author conclude that the best way to improve profits in all their stores is to discontinue stocking many of the varieties of imported cheeses and concentrate primarily on domestic cheese. To sustain it, he presented that the best-selling cheeses in the newest shop are from Wisconsin (W), and showed a survey from a cheese magazine. But I find it problematic in several respects.

First and foremost, the sale condition that presented in this argument may be not representative, since the author presented nothing of the details about the newest store, it is possible that this shop is located in W or have some promotions in selling cheeses from W, thus the statistics from the shop means nothing. Even regardless of this reason, the author could not conclude any generalization about all shops, since it is insufficient to equal the preference of people around the only one shop to the others, as a result, it is possible that people in other place may prefer import cheeses instead of domestic ones.

Secondly, the survey in the argument is also unpersuasive. As the author didn't show any details or statistics about the survey, it is easy to imagine that the preference for domestic were light before, and the preference now may still in a low level even though there is a increasing. Moreover, the author didn't present how many responds are collected or the composing of customs in the survey, if the number of responds could not represent most of the customs or the subscribers are mostly cheese researchers but not purchasers then the survey may mean nothing.

Last but not least, even assuming that the evidence presented above is correct, it is not the case that discontinues stocking imported cheese will profit. The author only said the domestic’s sales condition is good, but no evidence shows it is well profited, it is possible that the income from imported cheeses are more that domestic ones due to their high price and low costs. And even regardless of this, discontinuing stocking may not be the best way since there should be many ways in promoting profits, for example, have more commercials in media is also a good way to help to promote sales conditions and at last help profit better.

In sum, the argument is not persuasive as it stands. To strengthen it, the author should show us more statistics or other evidence of the present sales conditions and the survey from the magazine, and at last compare several ways of profiting, thus, the best decision could be made.