Comments on: $2,250 for a bunch of grapes http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/ Japan News Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:11:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: anon http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-347364 anon Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:27:25 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-347364 if you can sell a single grape for ~$70, you are the master of marketing. if you can sell a single grape for ~$70, you are the master of marketing.

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]]> By: Togu http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-342684 Togu Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:15:51 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-342684 this guy looks weird this guy looks weird

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]]> By: majiimeaussie http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-342530 majiimeaussie Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:18:10 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-342530 At least he got the advertising for buying 210,000 yen grapes. What about the other paying 71,000 yen that get no advertising. At least he got the advertising for buying 210,000 yen grapes. What about the other paying 71,000 yen that get no advertising.

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]]> By: helical http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-342402 helical Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:31:18 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-342402 It's the result of the trend of Japanese consumers demanding perfection from their products, and a willingness to pay a premium for the best of the best. The farmers take exquisite care of their crop, pampering it with individual covers, culling even slightly small/odd-shaped fruits, until they get a small amount of perfectly shaped fruits that go for exorbitant prices instead of a truckload of okay-looking fruits that are relatively cheap. This trend is more pronounced with fruit, but it's present with vegetables as well. I believe fruit was originally rare in Japan to begin with, so the culture of cherishing fruit as a expensive luxury was already in place, and farmers of the 20th century took advantage of this. It’s the result of the trend of Japanese consumers demanding perfection from their products, and a willingness to pay a premium for the best of the best.

The farmers take exquisite care of their crop, pampering it with individual covers, culling even slightly small/odd-shaped fruits, until they get a small amount of perfectly shaped fruits that go for exorbitant prices instead of a truckload of okay-looking fruits that are relatively cheap.
This trend is more pronounced with fruit, but it’s present with vegetables as well.

I believe fruit was originally rare in Japan to begin with, so the culture of cherishing fruit as a expensive luxury was already in place, and farmers of the 20th century took advantage of this.

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]]> By: VonSkippy http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-342265 VonSkippy Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:29:44 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-342265 Advertising is only "cheap" if it has a good conversion rate. Somehow I doubt having tv/web spots about a guy flaky enough to piss away 210,000 on a bunch of grapes is going to convert enough new customers into not only traveling to see this crazy guy but also to buy something. That's alot of "buy somethings" required (since it's the profit on those "somethings" not the price) to make up 210,000 yen. I guess it's possible - but I'd need to see the balance sheet for this little "marketing" adventure before retracting my "that's stupid" statement. Advertising is only “cheap” if it has a good conversion rate.

Somehow I doubt having tv/web spots about a guy flaky enough to piss away 210,000 on a bunch of grapes is going to convert enough new customers into not only traveling to see this crazy guy but also to buy something.

That’s alot of “buy somethings” required (since it’s the profit on those “somethings” not the price) to make up 210,000 yen.

I guess it’s possible – but I’d need to see the balance sheet for this little “marketing” adventure before retracting my “that’s stupid” statement.

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]]> By: Sandy http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-342176 Sandy Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:42:50 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-342176 Can I ask why fruits such as grapes and watermelons are so rare in Japan? Is it just the climate? Can I ask why fruits such as grapes and watermelons are so rare in Japan? Is it just the climate?

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]]> By: Mary Witzl http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-342124 Mary Witzl Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:38:42 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-342124 You beat me to it: I'd say he got a good deal here too. And maybe those grapes even taste good. You beat me to it: I’d say he got a good deal here too. And maybe those grapes even taste good.

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]]> By: Level3 http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-341440 Level3 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:09:50 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-341440 You miss the point. For 210,000 he bought himself a spot in the news and even got TV. That's cheap advertising. He got a bargain. You miss the point.

For 210,000 he bought himself a spot in the news and even got TV.
That’s cheap advertising.

He got a bargain.

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]]> By: Sandy http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-341424 Sandy Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:40:53 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-341424 That man is going to kill <i>everyone</i>. That man is going to kill everyone.

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]]> By: weirdo http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-341421 weirdo Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:31:23 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-341421 Huh? Are you telling me you can sell a grape for more than $70 each if you take a marketing class? Amazing. Huh? Are you telling me you can sell a grape for more than $70 each if you take a marketing class? Amazing.

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]]> By: weirdo http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-341420 weirdo Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:29:50 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-341420 Nobody's making you buy the more expensive fruits. Nobody’s making you buy the more expensive fruits.

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]]> By: Vonskippy http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-341400 Vonskippy Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:34:44 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-341400 Apparently no where in Japan do they teach Marketing 101. Apparently no where in Japan do they teach Marketing 101.

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]]> By: Kitty http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-341374 Kitty Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:43:01 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-341374 No wonder he paid so much....the guy looks like he has DOWN SYNDROME!!!! No wonder he paid so much….the guy looks like he has DOWN SYNDROME!!!!

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]]> By: comeon http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/07/15/2250-for-a-bunch-of-grapes/comment-page-1/#comment-341335 comeon Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:29:18 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11375#comment-341335 Come on Japan, Fruits/ foods should not be a luxury...Fruits should be available for all at low prices, why cos it's healthy it should be cheaper than a bag of chips. Come on Japan, Fruits/ foods should not be a luxury…Fruits should be available for all at low prices, why cos it’s healthy it should be cheaper than a bag of chips.

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