I use the Shinkansen semi-regularly and almost all the time I see these carts just pass from one end of the car to the other without making any sales. Very occasionally someone buys a coffee. Most people just buy the much cheaper food at the convenience store that’s literally on the platform. People are acting like they are going to miss this service even though they themselves have hardly used it and I’m surprised that this journalist found someone who buys ice cream every time
I use these just for topping off on another beer for long haul travel. But otherwise they’re not super helpful anyway. You can buy everything you need. I think it would be nice if they had a vending machine on each train to buy hot/cold drinks, maybe just 1 would be enough.
Why didn’t they ever try offering better snacks/food?
Numerous times I’ve been hungry on the train and wanted to buy something and the offerings have just been terrible. Also agree with the other commenters that say the timing of the cart is completely unpredictable.
The obvious solution if they want to ditch the cart is just add a vending machine. You need to be able to buy water on the train at least.
Suprising, but I have only used it once in 20 years. I always buy what I need before I get on the train, and most others do too, so I would imagine thery have to deal with best buys dates, etc. and considering the devestating profit losses during the Covid times (I have been on a Shinkansen that may have had less than 10 people on it) cost cutting wherever possible should be expected.
You can still order through an app, and an employee will bring the foods to you.
These carts are incredibly inefficient. You maybe see it pass once or twice between Tokyo and Osaka if you’re lucky. I’ve spent hours waiting for the damn cart to come by.
They should just have one cart set up shop in the toilet area between cars in the middle of the train. Want a beer or coffee? Stand up and go get it. But god forbid a buzzed ojisan salaryman should have to get off his ass instead of a polite young woman coming to serve him.
The enshittification of goods and services continues apace.
I buy either coffee and/or whisky and Tansan (with a glass of ice) from them every time I ride the shinkansen. I for one would miss them
Japan still stuck in negative yields as ECB joins rate hike revival https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Finance/Japan-still-stuck-in-negative-yields-as-ECB-joins-rate-hike-revival
8 comments
I use the Shinkansen semi-regularly and almost all the time I see these carts just pass from one end of the car to the other without making any sales. Very occasionally someone buys a coffee. Most people just buy the much cheaper food at the convenience store that’s literally on the platform. People are acting like they are going to miss this service even though they themselves have hardly used it and I’m surprised that this journalist found someone who buys ice cream every time
I use these just for topping off on another beer for long haul travel. But otherwise they’re not super helpful anyway. You can buy everything you need. I think it would be nice if they had a vending machine on each train to buy hot/cold drinks, maybe just 1 would be enough.
Why didn’t they ever try offering better snacks/food?
Numerous times I’ve been hungry on the train and wanted to buy something and the offerings have just been terrible. Also agree with the other commenters that say the timing of the cart is completely unpredictable.
The obvious solution if they want to ditch the cart is just add a vending machine. You need to be able to buy water on the train at least.
Suprising, but I have only used it once in 20 years. I always buy what I need before I get on the train, and most others do too, so I would imagine thery have to deal with best buys dates, etc. and considering the devestating profit losses during the Covid times (I have been on a Shinkansen that may have had less than 10 people on it) cost cutting wherever possible should be expected.
You can still order through an app, and an employee will bring the foods to you.
These carts are incredibly inefficient. You maybe see it pass once or twice between Tokyo and Osaka if you’re lucky. I’ve spent hours waiting for the damn cart to come by.
They should just have one cart set up shop in the toilet area between cars in the middle of the train. Want a beer or coffee? Stand up and go get it. But god forbid a buzzed ojisan salaryman should have to get off his ass instead of a polite young woman coming to serve him.
The enshittification of goods and services continues apace.
I buy either coffee and/or whisky and Tansan (with a glass of ice) from them every time I ride the shinkansen. I for one would miss them
The ones selling the hardest ice cream ever?