Comments on: Ripping off Expats in China?

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 14 May 2011 12:53:15 +0000

Well, I agree to those above who say that even the native Chinese get ripped off too.
I am of Chinese parentage but lived my life in the world of the west. I must say I am horrible at bargining and when I go to buy stuff I often get ripped of much more than my non-asian friends. It basically comes to your bargin skills.

However still those friends of mine tell me that when they ask for something, say a pair of jeans, (which in fact are fake) the price that they are given are maybe 10x more than they would give me.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:52:25 +0000

Rigine, John’s comments are very interesting, he is kinda confirming a typical French attitude,”China will never be civilized like France” I do a fair bit of travel from China to France and have some great French friends and accociates but yeah, John’s attitude is very common, and most people in busines would agree you would get ripped of or even would be at more physical risk in France than China.
As with John, the French dont always seem to capable of seeing their faults, but to their credit, after spending time here in China they eventualy get it.
In life you tend to attract what you are, also open your eyes and you will also see a lot of positives, both in France and China!
My advice to John? the world is a big place, try to enjoy it all, you will benifit.

By: shane

shane — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:31:29 +0000

I used to lived in New York City and I got ripped off quite a few times in the past

most cabbies(in any city) try to rip people off, I have had one cabbie who threatened to torch my house if I didn’t pay him 500 dollars… it was absolutely robbery, and the stupid thing is the cops didn’t even show up or helped and cab companies didn’t care

I ended up paying him 300 dollars just get rid of him

the cabbies can get away with anything in new york

don’t ever take cabs in new york, especially the black cabs(which doesn’t have meters and relies on a agreed upon price)

cabbies in China do try to rip people off, but not as often or serious as American cabbies

native chinese get ripped off all the time too

By: john

john — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:11:58 +0000

regine,

don't compare France with China. France is one of the world top nations. French are civilized unlike chinese who will never be.
if you got into trouble in France its certainly because you adressed the locals with arrogance and in English which they are unlikely to understand.
if you were polite and greeted them with basic french, you would be treated very nicely.
so keep this cliche for yourself. France is not the most visited country in the world for no reason.
[edited for overly strong and overgeneralized attack on China and Chinese people, sorry]

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:46:18 +0000

Hi Debbie,

Sometimes you just run into cabbies who want to take you for a ride. It sucks, but in four years it’s only happened like three times to me. I think 大众 / Volkswagen are the best – Shanghai has so many cab companies.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:43:13 +0000

Hi Jon – But do you really think they pay them? Who would be stupid enough =)

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:52:52 +0000

I once had someone try to sell me a pair of shoes for 5,000 rmb. I turned to the Chinese guy next to me and asked “How much would you pay for these?” To which he shrugged and said “Maybe 100.” I really think that the only reason these people charge such crazy prices is because some people pay them.

By: debbie

debbie — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:54:11 +0000

This is not about glass shop, but I saw the note about the taxi driver. That happened the first time I took one back from Hongqiao to Hongkou. I kept asking, you don’t know, you don’t know (Ni bu zhidao?) and he kept driving without stopping to ask for directions until I started telling him I wasn’t going to pay what was on the meter. He figured it out pretty quickly after that. You just have to hold your ground, and try not to get in the red cabs here. Light green and yellow are the best.

By: maneo

maneo — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 04:44:26 +0000

There seem to be 2 stories above:

1) about a pleasant experience of having a glass shop owner send a young guy home “in quick fashion,” who took care of both doors for just 60 RMB ($7).

2) another a typical challenge about someone trying to take advantage of a stranger.

Complaints – more than 400 words vs. describing the
good experience – just 47 words.

By: Tom Swift

Tom Swift — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 23:52:51 +0000

Just got into Shenzhen yesterday from Hong Kong on my first visit here (I live just outside Shanghai). I had two taxi drivers quote me horrible prices for getting to my hotel and with zero signs or maps to be found for the underground, I seemed to be stuck. Finally I went into a fancy hotel, where they not only got the hotel address for me, they provided a taxi who charged me the fair price.

At my hotel, I wanted to go to a tourist area outside of town so the concierge went asking the taxi drivers for the fare, since I told him about my problems with ripoffs. They all quoted too much so he finally phoned his friend, who drove me out there, waited for me, and drove me back for a reasonable price.

The Chinese can be honest but you have to find the honest ones.

Oh, I teach at a high school over here. I live in a small town where they have not yet learned the ability of ripping off foreigners, which is great. Whenever I need anything in Shanghai, I give money to my students to buy it for me. This way I don’t get ripped off.