Hoping to tap into that Amazon.com magic right here in Japan, Softbank (a software and publishing company), Seven-Eleven, Yahoo! Japan and Tohan, a book publisher and distributor, last week announced a joint venture to sell books online. e-Shopping! Books (who thinks up these names?) plans to open for business in November
The scheme is designed to circumvent the chief obstacle to e-commerce in Japan: the reluctance of Japanese consumers to give out credit-card numbers over the Internet. In this plan, a customer will order a book online, mosey over to a neighborhood Seven-Eleven, plunk down the cash and wait for the book to be delivered (by Yamato Transport, another participant).
Elegant, no? Business analysts give the plan mixed reviews, at least in terms of its impact on the four partners' prospects.