tonado Posted April 25, 2005 Report Share Posted April 25, 2005 When my wife was here in USA, she was surprised that we have to do everything ourselves. Most people would pump their gas. When you go shopping, you have to find most stuffs yourselves. There are sale associates but you really have to ask them for help. In China, when you go to a store, you see so many sale associates trying to help you. Dining is the same way. At the entrance, there are so many hostesses trying to help you. Once you are eating, you are surrounded by so many waiters and waitresses. So if you need anything, they would gladly serve you. Unless you eat at a 5 stars restaurant in USA, you never see this kind of service. And you have to tip a lot too. In China, no tipping and great service. Link to comment
rogerluli Posted April 25, 2005 Report Share Posted April 25, 2005 When we retire in Hunan my SO informs me that a live-in housekeeper/cook will cost us the exorbitant sum of 500RMB/month. Link to comment
Dan R Posted April 25, 2005 Report Share Posted April 25, 2005 Tell her she is seeing China's future as wages and benfits increase. I remember when the first self serve gas stations went in. People wouldn't use them. It took time. When you went into a department store there was a sales clerk to greet you and ask what were you looking for. Actually the U.S. had more service than anything I have yet seen in China just 40 years ago. So appreciate what you like in the China of today. It was also different 40 years ago. But wait til you see the changes in 10 years. Everyone was shocked in the 70's-80's how quickly Japan changed. China is changing many times faster. Link to comment
tonado Posted April 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2005 A few years ago I bought a DVD player for my wife's computer in Nanning. The guy came to the house and installed it. Over here, you buy it in store and you have to spend at least an hour trying to install it and make it work. Also, I notice that many stores have self-service check out now (Home Depot, grocery markets) Link to comment
Dan R Posted April 25, 2005 Report Share Posted April 25, 2005 True about installation. We bought a television and I negotiated the price including carrying it up 8 floors and installation. When there was a problem with it a month later. They came back and did the set up again. Here everything is by contract and extras have to be added in. There it is more reputation and who can yell louder and longer. I can remember when it was like that here too before the warehouse stores eliminated private ownership. Link to comment
tonado Posted April 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2005 We also went bowling in Nanning and people would bring your rental shoes and tea and other drinks to you. In USA, you get your shoes and your drinks. Link to comment
sylinchinastill Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 That's true- I generally enjoy the service in China- but sometimes in stores when people follow you around- like clothing stores- I hate that- It makes me very nervous. And sometimes in Walmart-type stores they are always pushing certain products and telling you what to buy. As long as you don't tell them what you are looking for you will be okay. Link to comment
david_dawei Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 When my wife was here in USA, she was surprised that we have to do everything ourselves. Most people would pump their gas. When you go shopping, you have to find most stuffs yourselves. There are sale associates but you really have to ask them for help. In China, when you go to a store, you see so many sale associates trying to help you. Dining is the same way. At the entrance, there are so many hostesses trying to help you. Once you are eating, you are surrounded by so many waiters and waitresses. So if you need anything, they would gladly serve you. Unless you eat at a 5 stars restaurant in USA, you never see this kind of service. And you have to tip a lot too. In China, no tipping and great service.I was fairly shocked to see so many service people as well in the Chinese malls, also in restaurant... made me wonder what their unemployment would be like if wages increase and they cannot afford to pay as many people.. Generally, I found the servers in China truly trying to serve you, even if you didn't think you needed help, they would offer .. and follow you around the store about 5 paces back. Link to comment
Dan R Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 Yup wages and benefits will change all that. When I first went to Japan there was a girl at the escalator on each floor. Her job was to bow and welcome you to the floor. Now they have a lifesize placard of the girl bowing with welcome written on it or just a speaker saying welcome to you anytime you go to a shop or floor. Safely store your memories. Come gather 'round peopleWherever you roamAnd admit that the watersAround you have grownAnd accept it that soonYou'll be drenched to the bone.If your time to youIs worth savin'Then you better start swimmin'Or you'll sink like a stoneFor the times they are a-changin'. Come writers and criticsWho prophesize with your penAnd keep your eyes wideThe chance won't come againAnd don't speak too soonFor the wheel's still in spinAnd there's no tellin' whoThat it's namin'.For the loser nowWill be later to winFor the times they are a-changin'. Come senators, congressmenPlease heed the callDon't stand in the doorwayDon't block up the hallFor he that gets hurtWill be he who has stalledThere's a battle outsideAnd it is ragin'.It'll soon shake your windowsAnd rattle your wallsFor the times they are a-changin'. Come mothers and fathersThroughout the landAnd don't criticizeWhat you can't understandYour sons and your daughtersAre beyond your commandYour old road isRapidly agin'.Please get out of the new oneIf you can't lend your handFor the times they are a-changin'. The line it is drawnThe curse it is castThe slow one nowWill later be fastAs the present nowWill later be pastThe order isRapidly fadin'.And the first one nowWill later be lastFor the times they are a-changin'. Link to comment
sylinchinastill Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 Come to think of it though- I have also had very bad service in China. One time we were in a restaurant- kind of shabby but not terribly so- and my husband knocked over his glass- it was cheap and broke just from falling to the side on the table- and the waitress made him pay for it- he paid and then got really mad. (I just wouldn't have paid)- Then we were talking about it at lunch today and my husband reminded me of one Cantonese restaurant where they had terrible service- it was all you could do to get them to bring you the food you ordered. So it goes both ways- my husband says that in China- once a restaurant does well it will bother less and less about service. Link to comment
david_dawei Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 Come to think of it though- I have also had very bad service in China. One time we were in a restaurant- kind of shabby but not terribly so- and my husband knocked over his glass- it was cheap and broke just from falling to the side on the table- and the waitress made him pay for it- he paid and then got really mad. (I just wouldn't have paid)- Then we were talking about it at lunch today and my husband reminded me of one Cantonese restaurant where they had terrible service- it was all you could do to get them to bring you the food you ordered. So it goes both ways- my husband says that in China- once a restaurant does well it will bother less and less about service.I had the opposite issue in China. We asked the restaurant if we could buy a glass so I could take it back to the US.. They usually had this blank stare asking, why would you want to do that. and We don't sell glassses, we only use them. Then we asked , supposed we broke it, would we pay for it. And they said no. Then we said, supposed we just take it out the door with us. and they said OK !!! So as a matter of principle, they would not take money for the glass, even if we took it ! After having this delightful experience, we decided to repeat it two more times, including once in Beijing... In all three cases, we walked away from glasses.. Link to comment
Dan R Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 I had wanted the Tao marked cups we drank from in the vegetarian restaurant in Wuhan. They said they wouldn't sell them but directed me to the Taoist Temple several doors down. They had the cups and many other things in a shop as part of the Temple. I wasn't allowed to buy them though because they were over priced . You don't take pictures of the statue of Lao Tsu either. Actually that I knew. I have never taken pictures of any religous objects in China. Link to comment
awch Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 I think they have so many people hanging around becuase of job security and over population. It just seems like a bit much to have 15 people standing around in an empty restaurant and watch you eat. Like Syl said I also find it really annoying when saleswomen follow me around in the store and try to get me to buy the absolute ugliest thing they have. But then again it's nice to have them there to ask the price of everything since usually the price isn't on the clothes. Link to comment
C4Racer Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 So it goes both ways- my husband says that in China- once a restaurant does well it will bother less and less about service.It's human nature that if you get same benefit with less work, than the staff will put forth the minimum effort required. his is one reason I like the tipping system. In Oregon it will be interesting to see if the tipping system stays in place. We just raised wages in Oregon for the food service people. I think the last voter approved mandated raise went into effect this last January, but don't quote me on that. I think just like it took a while for tipping to catch on, it will take a while, but I expect to see a gradual decrease in tipping. I myself do not expect China to change as quick. The Government will do something to keep the employment up. This is one reson you see men with wheel barrows in place of backhoes. We also fix many cars and homes by ourselves. In China, because of the amount of people available to help, you would not even consider such a thing. China has too many people to keep busy, employed and fed. I think They will always do things different while there is such a large disparity between China and the rest of the world's population. Link to comment
david_dawei Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 I had wanted the Tao marked cups we drank from in the vegetarian restaurant in Wuhan. They said they wouldn't sell them but directed me to the Taoist Temple several doors down. They had the cups and many other things in a shop as part of the Temple. I wasn't allowed to buy them though because they were over priced . You don't take pictures of the statue of Lao Tsu either. Actually that I knew. I have never taken pictures of any religous objects in China.Are you religious about your SO... Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now