"The reason for the slowdown [in sales growth] is not a lack of purchasing power but a lack of consumer confidence," says Xu Zhengfei, marketing director for the Suning chain of appliance stores.

“销售增长减缓的原因并非出于缺乏购买力，而是缺乏消费信心”，苏宁电器销售总监许正飞(音)表示。

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But Patrick Hynes, senior director of purchasing at Darden, changed his mind after Bassoul paid a visit.

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In an interview years ago, Whit Stillman, arguably the greatest modern director of films sadly never seen by most Americans, was asked about purchasing an apartment in New York City.

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"They e-mail and fax us lists of parts and say, 'Help us get rid of this stuff, ' " says Donald Pensack, Supergo's purchasing director.

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