Quarterly Greetings

Aloha Everyone!

 

I just wanted to send a great big thank you for all the business during the first quarter of the year.  The International section of Mile-Stone really grew with new clients all across Europe and America and a few new ones in Asia as well.  Welcome to all those new clients.

The Quarterly Greeting is something new, that I thought I would make just a few minutes ago.  I figured this would be a chance to answer questions and bring concerns that directly affect all of us, including me!

 

First, new things, we are working and getting closer to closure on things we need for the new B to B site, we have had some meetings about shipping and when I get answers I'll send a new letter out to everyone.  Things will get better a few months down the line barring any major complications or any new economic crisis for us all.

 

Not a lot of news other than that, sorry, you need to be patient for the new site, because when its finished life will be easier for everyone ordering off of the site.

 

Communication: Please vendors, friends you can contact me about anything and I'll always do my best to fix any problems.  If you are having difficulties for whatever reason all you have to do is call me, phone, Skype or email me.  Communication about difficulties of any sort is important, not communicating causes difficulties for everyone so please feel free to contact me.  I am off on Thursday's but you can always find me at Mile-Stone and when I take vacation I am still only an email away.  I take my computer everywhere and will respond to your needs as fast as I can.  Please keep the lines of communications open with me, OK?

 

 

Now, major issues that we need to discuss:

Remittance: We all signed an agreement with Mile-Stone and simply it states that you will make remittance every two weeks.  That is the simple version of it.  We send and invoice and you pay the invoice.  If you need a little extra time, then let me know, I have never told a client no!  Well, except for sold out items!  If you need extra time you need to communicate with me, please?  Now, I want to share something with you all.  Whether you have been doing business with Japanese companies a short time or for years, you all need to remember how they think.  So recently, remittance has been slow and we are doing something called revised invoices.  I don't like them and neither does Mile-Stone.  The only good revised invoice is an invoice that we have made an error on and we have to fix.  A revised invoice because we are updating an invoice because a cycle has passed and you haven't made payment, is not a good thing.  I am constantly asked why the International vendors pay so late?  We sent out invoices roughly on the 9^th of July and I haven't gotten responses for 30% of them!  Not a good thing for Ken, trust me.  Come on gang, we can do better than that, like I said communicate with me please.  You receive an invoice you need to make remittance for it, I give you guys 3 - 5 days, that's more than enough time, especially with internet banking, we can do this.  We are doing great with the credit card vendor's thank you very much 80% response and payment; we won't mention the score for wire transfers OK?  (hint...hint) Japanese don't understand the waiting and reasons I give them for your delays, I know you guys are at conventions and do business trips but we need to communicate so I can let them know, and keep them off my back as well.  Remittance 3 - 5 days please, after all it's our responsibility right?

 

Shipping: Space is a premium in Japan and at Mile-Stone it's twice as valuable and you'll know this if you ever visit our office.  There are times, and this is no joke, that I have boxes stacked up outside both areas in the hallways and in the office area and we are playing twister without the board just to get into our desks.  The agreement is twice a month, just like invoices, pay the invoice and we ship the product they kind of go hand in hand right?  Now I know I am joking about it in this but think about it if I am holding 4 boxes for every International client I am in deep trouble.  Late last month and earlier this month and still now I have a serious shipping problem.  I don't have place for everyone's merchandise and if you decide to pay late then I really have problems.  That problem for you new members is called Tak, he is the GM and he can be rough when he wants to.

 

We started the International part of Mile-Stone April 1^st, and we need to follow the rules when it comes to making remittance and accepting shipping.  We understand that there may be exceptions to the rules, so let me explained the rules:

l  Small order, if an order is less than 30000 JP Yen we will gladly hold an items.

l  Communicating of difficulties with me!

Sorry, but that's it!  See the importance of communicating with me?

 

I will gladly and have fought for many clients that had big orders that needed to be delayed for various reasons, and like I said before I almost never say no.  I always try to find a way to do things.  A good way to get things done is communicating with me.  Mile-Stone has always shipped upon proof of payment, so if you are wiring money to Mile-Stone send me the copy of the wire transfer, it isn't a secret and I can ship upon its receipt.  This helps you and it helps me.  I always ask for it when I email the invoice to you as a reminder and it doesn't take up that much time.

 

Right now, we need to communicate with Ken more and don't be shy about issues the more information I have the better it is for you.  We had a client that was sick and couldn't make payment for his order, we were able to sell almost everything that wasn't a sold item for that client helping him and Mile-Stone out.  Some of you got product because of that.  See what communications can do. 

Please understand that there will be limits to my abilities but that doesn't mean I won't try! 

 

Remember, invoice, payment 3 - 5 days and a shipping method. 

Hope this doesn't offend anyone but I felt this was the best way to communicate this to everyone at once, because it's important for everyone to know and to remember!

 

 

Mahalo for your time, and I look forward to meeting everyone that I haven't someday face to face!

 

ALOHA

Ken