Soviet Marketing--Stronger Than We Think.

The article reports that a change from production to market orientation in Russia would mean that the Ministries of Trade must exert a greater influence than in the past in a multitude of ways: in product planning, in exchange of merchandise between stores, and so forth. Many procedures have been initiated which may prove helpful in getting wider participation by consumers in product planning. Consumers' conferences are held in which store managers and factory representatives participate to secure indications of consumers attitudes toward various products. Apparently decentralization is continuing, and through this more authority and responsibility for planning and allocation are transferred to the republic level. Retail and wholesale establishments have the right to return poor quality merchandise. The supplier has to pay transportation charges both ways. Factories warrant the quality of their products for one year and many large factories have their own repair shops in Moscow where durables are repaired free of charge.