jemmyell

You have taken the liberty to assume quite a bit about me, so I will go ahead and take the liberty with you as well. I think I know the Chinese business environment much better than you. I have lived in Guilin and Shanghai for an extend period of time doing research on opening up some business there. I've also visited many other cities checking out business opportunties. There is NO need to base my operation in BJ. For a call center, I can setup my base anywhere. All I would need are college students with an English degree for the email/skype/call center. You pay them 1500rmb month (that's 185 USD/month). You pay them at the END of the month. They work for 30 days first before any pay. I'm not going to disclose anymore about my private info. Suffice it to say I have the background and the knowledge--better than you--to do this. If I believed there were enough US buyers wanting to buy flowers each day to send to their Chinese gals, I'd be doing it. Nothing prevents me from doing this, except there isn't enough of a market. The reason why Anne charges so much is because there's NO market to sustain it and she charges a premium for such service. But she BANKS with each order. Judigng by what you've posted above, I think it's you who has no idea what it costs or how to do business in China. As a loawei, it will cost you a lot to setup a business in China. But if you have a local Chinese partner in which the business is registered under, then it's quite cheap for a small flower shop. It's all about knowing people in China. Business in China is done so differently than the US. I'm not telling you anymore. You go do your own research. But you are more than welcome to pay whatever price you want for these flowers. It's the same kind of price gouging that loaweis encounter when visiting China and are laughed at by the local merchants when they sell you something for 100 rmb and then sell the same item to locals for 10 rmb. If you feel comfortable with that and feel you're not ripped off, then so be it. All kinds of people in the world. Well you also take great liberties. I have run successful small businesses all my life. If it were not for the cost of medical services I would not work for a fortune 500 company. You continue to misstate the dynamics of a business like Annie Flowers while mentioning your 'research'. Research is a LONG way from making a payroll and turning a profit. Again, I ask you, have YOU EVER run a business of any size? If not, then you don't know what you are talking about. At this point you may tell me you are a MBA at a large company, many qualifications etc. I have spent my professional career cleaning up after MBAs that couldn't turn a profit if they had the only hamburger for sale in a starving city. -James

Alright, I'm moving over to SH and starting Sir Lancelot's US man sends flower to his Chinese Lady flower shop. You bring all your fellow buddies to me for their flower needs. I'll give you a better rate than Anna's. She's ripping you off. I will sell equally impressive flowers to you for 25% off her prices. I would totally do it if I think there were enough of you to sustain this business model. But I doubt there are enough of you. I suspect she charges the amount she does because she knows she can get away with doing that. If this was her sole clientele, she'd be out of business. I'm sure she charges locals a different rate, or she'd be out of business too. Go for it! Let us know what the overhead is for opening a 24/7 call center in Beijing, then making deals with local florists all over China, processing the orders and making sure the customers are happy. Annie flowers answers inquiries 24/7 and processes orders within 20 minutes. They maintain a professional website with a shopping cart. They have bilingual staff and are available on the phone (in Chinese), Yahoo messenger and Skype. I believe that means AT LEAST 3 full time people in Beijing. Beijing costs and wages are among the highest in China. Have you ever run a small or medium business? Any idea what it takes to survive? The florist industry is highly seasonal. They must pay staff even when the volume of orders is not there. Tell me what business you have run, how much profit you make and how you financed it? There is DEFINITELY enough business to sustain the business model or there would not be multiple competitors in that niche. BTW, I have NO association with them except as a satisifed customer. BUT I get very unhappy when I hear some wage slave call a legitimate business a 'rip-off' due to their incomplete and simplistic view of business and finance. -James

Hi, At this point think about documenting your relationship at every turn of events. If you have a video camera, be sure to take it and make a 'home movie' of you two communicating. Keep EVERY piece of paper from this trip. Make copies of your tickets, boarding passes, etc. Read the FAQ here and at VisaJourney.com -James and Loving Candle

Definitely, don't forget Hui and her daughter... Everything else is optional. -James and Loving Candle

Congratulations Richard! I guess we will see you over at the AOS forum now! I REALLY hope you can avoid that 700 day delay in Orlando. Try to do your AOS elsewhere if you can. -James and Loving Candle

I have used Annie Flowers with good success. They also keep an online account for you that I have printed for more relationship evidence, http://china-flower.annie.com.cn/ -James and Loving Candle OMG! I just took a look at the website and saw their prices. INSANE! While they are perfectly reasonable prices in the US, as compared to 1800florist or FTD, but in China, they should be 1/10 the price. Outside of the big 3 (BJ, SH, GZ) it should be 1/12 or 1/15 the price that this Anna person is charging. She's making an absolute killing! Have any of you purchased flowers while in China? These are totally rip off prices. 10rmb is more than adequate delivery fee for intercity deliveries and I gaurantee they are not flying these flowers in from some other city. These are locally delivered from that city and 10rmb should be adequate delivery fee. I just can't believe the prices she's charging. It's enough to make me want to go to China right now and start a flower delivery company catering to foreigners wanting to send their GF's flowers. Absolutely flabbergasted! When you are in China, you will certainly want to go down to the corner and buy them yourself, ordering in Mandarin. Then again, the Laowei prices may NOT be the same as that charged to the local residents... Annie Flowers is NOT competing in that market. They are competing in the "US man sends flowers to his Chinese Lady" market. In that venue they are VERY competitive and their service is excellent. They are NOT a 'rip-off'. They provide a service that I gladly pay for and greatly appreciate. -James

Congratulations! -James and Loving Candle

Good luck, I know that all will be fine! -James and Loving Candle

Congratulations! -James and Loving Candle

Richard, YOU WILL PASS!!' We know that all will be ok! -James and Loving Candle

Toni, I would probably take the money, buy property in Both California and China and pay it off. Once you own outright many more options are available. The trick to absorbing a delta of a double salary, is to NOT upgrade your lifestyle and just invest the extra. Also I would figure heavily how this would impact the time to spend with my new spouse. If it is going to mean 18 hour days / 7 days a week it would certainly not be worth it. I don't think New York winters will even faze Lin, given that he is from Jilin. HE will probably be able to help YOU cope with the ice, snow and cold... IMHO, -James and Loving Candle

Congratulations! -James and Loving Candle

Congratulations! We are STILL on a roll here! -James

Congratulations! Now you get to plan the flight to LAX! -James and Loving Candle

Good luck and good wishes! -James and Loving Candle

Eunice, you ARE as good as he thinks. Perception usually rules reality. -James

He should just reply that you are loving, happy, and care deeply for him. Then he should say that you are also beautiful, but he is only lucky since that does not matter so much. -James

Congratulations! -James and Loving Candle

Jeff, you should change your sig when you're not posting in the TC... -James

Another step! Good luck! -James and Loving Candle

Congratulations! How sweet it is! -James

Hello, I just used Annie Flowers again and they did GREAT! I forgot the day difference again, so I almost missed Loving Candle's birthday! They called her while we were chatting and then delivered soon after that. She says the roses are the best she has gotten yet. Yes, PayPal also makes this SO easy for me too! -James

Congratulations! -James and Loving Candle

Congratulations!!! -James and Loving Candle

Home, commitment, sincerity are very high on the list. Chinese women want security and faithfulness above all IMHO. Call when you say you will, do what you say you will do. If you own your home that is a big plus. Take digital photos and send them to her. Arrange to visit her as soon as you can, and begin the discussion of what the visa process consists of and all the things that would be good to do when you do visit. This will demonstrate that you are already looking forward to married life and to acting as life partners. Above all, be CONFIDENT! But don't make promises you cannot keep. -James and Loving Candle