Comments on: Shopping and Bargaining http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/ Join the Rumor Queen as she looks for the latest rumors and then analyzes them, trying to figure out what the CCAA will do next. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:22:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: lies1976 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/comment-page-2/#comment-31015 lies1976 Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:28:13 +0000 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/#comment-31015 DH and I went a belayed honeymoon to Beijing last October (since we have more time to save money before the babe comes home). The streetvenders started to annoy me by the start of day three. We passed a group of them every night on our 'evening round' ( I loved walking around during dinnertime to see al the activity in the streets). Politeness doesn't work, so I started to hold my hand up (Like 'talk to the hand') and said 'Bu' with a rather angry expression on my face. I'm not sure my prononciation was right, but they sure got the message and cleared the way. Not very nice, I know, but it worked. Bargaining is only fun when both parties can be happy with the result. My DH drove a hard bargain, but he stayed polite and threw in some smiles. On our last day we went back to a streetvender from who we had purchased may items from a few days earlier. She spotted us and waved 'remember me?' Ofcourse we did. I wanted to buy a bracelet and I knew she asked me price that was to high. But it was the equivelent of 1 euro. I could spare 1 euro ofcourse. So I didn't bargain and paid her the asked price and told her that I wasn't such a hard bargainer as my husband. She smiled and she said a had a good husband. 'very handsome, very smart man', she said. Although he had drove a hard bargain, she did respect him, because he had respected her, I guess. The items we bought are now sold and the profits will benefit children in China who need surgery. So it was bargaining for a good cause! Take your time when you go shopping, if you have time to spare. There are many young people who are happy to show you their knowledge of English. Ofcourse they want to sell you things, but I had may nice conversations with shopowners and their employees. DH and I went a belayed honeymoon to Beijing last October (since we have more time to save money before the babe comes home). The streetvenders started to annoy me by the start of day three. We passed a group of them every night on our ‘evening round’ ( I loved walking around during dinnertime to see al the activity in the streets). Politeness doesn’t work, so I started to hold my hand up (Like ‘talk to the hand’) and said ‘Bu’ with a rather angry expression on my face. I’m not sure my prononciation was right, but they sure got the message and cleared the way. Not very nice, I know, but it worked.

Bargaining is only fun when both parties can be happy with the result. My DH drove a hard bargain, but he stayed polite and threw in some smiles. On our last day we went back to a streetvender from who we had purchased may items from a few days earlier. She spotted us and waved ‘remember me?’ Ofcourse we did. I wanted to buy a bracelet and I knew she asked me price that was to high. But it was the equivelent of 1 euro. I could spare 1 euro ofcourse. So I didn’t bargain and paid her the asked price and told her that I wasn’t such a hard bargainer as my husband. She smiled and she said a had a good husband. ‘very handsome, very smart man’, she said. Although he had drove a hard bargain, she did respect him, because he had respected her, I guess. The items we bought are now sold and the profits will benefit children in China who need surgery. So it was bargaining for a good cause!

Take your time when you go shopping, if you have time to spare. There are many young people who are happy to show you their knowledge of English. Ofcourse they want to sell you things, but I had may nice conversations with shopowners and their employees.

]]> By: pixiepam http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/comment-page-2/#comment-30978 pixiepam Thu, 18 Jan 2007 14:32:58 +0000 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/#comment-30978 Our group went on several outings while at the White Swan and one of them was to the "biggest" department store in Guangzhou - sorry I can't remember the name - and right around the corner was a Mc Donald... then across the street was a HUGE music store. We bought about 20 different cd - both popular chinese music and children's songs. I don't remember there being much right on the Island for CDs Our group went on several outings while at the White Swan and one of them was to the “biggest” department store in Guangzhou – sorry I can’t remember the name – and right around the corner was a Mc Donald… then across the street was a HUGE music store. We bought about 20 different cd – both popular chinese music and children’s songs. I don’t remember there being much right on the Island for CDs

]]> By: jenele http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/comment-page-2/#comment-30970 jenele Thu, 18 Jan 2007 13:34:49 +0000 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/#comment-30970 Shopping tips for GZ....We were there for the full two weeks last time. The island was nice but there was only so much I could take. Our luggage was lost on the flight in so we needed to go where the "real people" shop to get underwear, socks and new outfits:) So here we were day one fresh off the plane by ourselves, no travel group, at the White Swan and needed underwear. We asked the conssseir ( however you spell it) were to go and he sent us off in a taxi. Talk about a cultural awaking. All I can say is....I am so glad my luggage was lost. We would have never had the experience we did. Anyway, we got in a taxi and they drove us to a local mall the Grand Buy....we had a blast. Maybe it was the adventure of not understanding a single person and being the only non Asian in sight. We truly felt like one day were in Chicago and the next...teleported whole new world . The White Swan gave us a white card that had a bunch of places to go written in Chinsese and English. We would just point on the card to the taxi cab driver and he would take us there. At the end of our adventures we would just point to the top of the card where it said White Swan and they would take us back. We went on our own adventures even after we got our daughter. We had to act as our own tour guides. And yes our luggage was eventually found. I had carried enough for baby in my carry on, formula, clothes, diapers but nothing for myself. Long story short....get off the island and explore, expecially if you are going to be there for two weeks:) Jennifer Shopping tips for GZ….We were there for the full two weeks last time. The island was nice but there was only so much I could take. Our luggage was lost on the flight in so we needed to go where the “real people” shop to get underwear, socks and new outfits:) So here we were day one fresh off the plane by ourselves, no travel group, at the White Swan and needed underwear. We asked the conssseir ( however you spell it) were to go and he sent us off in a taxi. Talk about a cultural awaking. All I can say is….I am so glad my luggage was lost. We would have never had the experience we did. Anyway, we got in a taxi and they drove us to a local mall the Grand Buy….we had a blast. Maybe it was the adventure of not understanding a single person and being the only non Asian in sight. We truly felt like one day were in Chicago and the next…teleported whole new world . The White Swan gave us a white card that had a bunch of places to go written in Chinsese and English. We would just point on the card to the taxi cab driver and he would take us there. At the end of our adventures we would just point to the top of the card where it said White Swan and they would take us back. We went on our own adventures even after we got our daughter. We had to act as our own tour guides. And yes our luggage was eventually found. I had carried enough for baby in my carry on, formula, clothes, diapers but nothing for myself. Long story short….get off the island and explore, expecially if you are going to be there for two weeks:)
Jennifer

]]> By: 2fromchina http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/comment-page-2/#comment-30969 2fromchina Thu, 18 Jan 2007 13:30:44 +0000 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/#comment-30969 What a great thread! I really need this as I am not a good shopper anywhere! So it is best if I go knowing what I want and where to look for it! I came home from my trip in 2002 thinking I had so much but really wish I had more! I will be better prepared this time. My all time favorite item from China is an oil painting I had done of my daughter on Shaiman Island. The artist (I think he went by the name Ben) took a photo of her, or you can bring one. He then creates an oil painting from this photo. He usually puts the child in a traditional Chinese outfit but you can request it be done in the outfit the child has on in the photo as well. I believe it was about $50 U.S. and well worth it. I think he usually requests three days but we found him 2 days before we were due to leave so he fit us in and our painting was ready for pick up right on time. The painting is true to life, everyone who sees it just can't believe how real she looks. Now I have this beautiful reminder of the first days I spent with my daughter in China. I did not have it framed there as it was easier to bring home not framed. But, it was very expensive to have it framed here. Hopefully, he is still there and I can have this done again. One of Mei Mei and one of the girls together. Has anyone else had this done? What a great thread! I really need this as I am not a good shopper anywhere! So it is best if I go knowing what I want and where to look for it!

I came home from my trip in 2002 thinking I had so much but really wish I had more! I will be better prepared this time. My all time favorite item from China is an oil painting I had done of my daughter on Shaiman Island. The artist (I think he went by the name Ben) took a photo of her, or you can bring one. He then creates an oil painting from this photo. He usually puts the child in a traditional Chinese outfit but you can request it be done in the outfit the child has on in the photo as well. I believe it was about $50 U.S. and well worth it. I think he usually requests three days but we found him 2 days before we were due to leave so he fit us in and our painting was ready for pick up right on time.

The painting is true to life, everyone who sees it just can’t believe how real she looks. Now I have this beautiful reminder of the first days I spent with my daughter in China. I did not have it framed there as it was easier to bring home not framed. But, it was very expensive to have it framed here. Hopefully, he is still there and I can have this done again. One of Mei Mei and one of the girls together.

Has anyone else had this done?

]]> By: familyof6 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/comment-page-2/#comment-30968 familyof6 Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:55:12 +0000 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/#comment-30968 Has anybody purchased any musical instruments in CHina? My son wants to major in music in college and wqould love to bring back some percusion or guitar type instruments. Has anybody purchased any musical instruments in CHina? My son wants to major in music in college and wqould love to bring back some percusion or guitar type instruments.

]]> By: familyof6 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/comment-page-2/#comment-30967 familyof6 Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:45:10 +0000 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/#comment-30967 We bought a Mah Jongg set and had it shipped home directly from the Frienship Store in 2003. It is beautiful but all the numbers and symbols are in CHinese and it has less blank tiles than the American versions so it can be very tough for people to use who are used to the CHinese numbers. We bought a Mah Jongg set and had it shipped home directly from the Frienship Store in 2003. It is beautiful but all the numbers and symbols are in CHinese and it has less blank tiles than the American versions so it can be very tough for people to use who are used to the CHinese numbers.

]]> By: cosmicthing http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/comment-page-2/#comment-30966 cosmicthing Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:03:54 +0000 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/#comment-30966 Wow, RQ, I wish I had had your shopping guide before we left. I alone, in our travel group, bought 10 pairs of shoes for our daughter, some of which are still too big for her. This was in a Japanese owned dept store in Changsha. The avg price was around $4.00 each. I should have filled up a whole suitcase! the styles are like none available here, very baby chic, everyone comments on how cool they are. If they were available here, they would be at least $25 per pair. And I could have used your bargaining tips as well! Bonne chance when you travel, and thanks for your site. I still read it even though we are not in process again at this time (yet) !!! : ) Wow, RQ, I wish I had had your shopping guide before we left. I alone, in our travel group, bought 10 pairs of shoes for our daughter, some of which are still too big for her. This was in a Japanese owned dept store in Changsha. The avg price was around $4.00 each. I should have filled up a whole suitcase! the styles are like none available here, very baby chic, everyone comments on how cool they are. If they were available here, they would be at least $25 per pair.

And I could have used your bargaining tips as well! Bonne chance when you travel, and thanks for your site. I still read it even though we are not in process again at this time (yet) !!! : )

]]> By: Worthwaitingfor http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/comment-page-2/#comment-30965 Worthwaitingfor Thu, 18 Jan 2007 03:59:35 +0000 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/#comment-30965 As far as keeping money safe on your body, what specific brand/type of money keeper did people find that worked well? As far as keeping money safe on your body, what specific brand/type of money keeper did people find that worked well?

]]> By: jmlance http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/comment-page-2/#comment-30964 jmlance Thu, 18 Jan 2007 03:57:18 +0000 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/#comment-30964 same thoughts about what if you have 2 checked bags on inter-country flights in china? and 1 carry on? what do you do with that add'l bag??? same thoughts about what if you have 2 checked bags on inter-country flights in china? and 1 carry on? what do you do with that add’l bag???

]]> By: chefmama http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/comment-page-2/#comment-30963 chefmama Thu, 18 Jan 2007 03:47:38 +0000 http://chinaadopttalk.com/2007/01/17/shopping-and-bargaining/#comment-30963 Speaking of shopping, does anyone know of a good place to buy baby music in China, to help sooth the little ones? Thanks for your help Debbie LID 11/22/05 Speaking of shopping, does anyone know of a good place to buy baby music in China, to help sooth the little ones?
Thanks for your help

Debbie
LID 11/22/05

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