Maple’s Special – 33
Before I start off, let me tell you a story first.
There’s a girl walking in the shopping street, and she saw this, a black jacket. She’s quite attracted to it, but there’s no price tag on it. So she asked the aunty for the price, then aunty told her, “oh, come in and try please, don’t care about the price.” Then the girl walked in, but she refused to try it before the price’s revealed to her. The aunty and her assistances kept brainwashing her to try, but the girl’s determined to say NO. She said that, “if you don’t tell me the price, then I will just walk out.” Finally, the aunty said, “128 RMB.” The girl shaked her head and walked out, ignoring the drag of the aunty. The aunty kept asking how much the price you want, but the girl just said,”Nevermind.” Then, the aunty said, ” How about like this, 48RMB?” The girl said,” 45 then ok.“ Finally, deal. 45.
This is the real life experience of mine, shopping in China. Can you imagine? The jacket is cut about 70%! At first, the price I am thinking is 60 RMB. Who knows the aunty herself cut to 48 RMB!
It’s really oh my god, don’t you think so?
This is the selling system in China. For those retail shops, you really have to bargain with the shopkeeper, or else you will be taken advantage. They always raise up the price up to a number which you think is unaffordable, but in fact the real price is only 50% of the price stated.
Do not give in; this is the first principle you have to learn if you want to have a good pricing. Particularly foreign customers like us, are very easy to get conned by them. As they can differentiate foreigners and local from the tones, foreigners are always being taken advantage. Although after conversion, the price is really low, but in fact we can have a lower price.
So do not fancied by their words, do not be fooled. If you think you could not get a reasonable price, just walk out from the shop. There’re still plenty shops around selling the same things. Don’t worry that you can never get the things you want, as their market is really too competitive. So, take advantage of the competition, win over it! *Evil grin*
Bargain, the real skill to survive in China market.
Labels: Maple's Special
Maple’s Special – 32
Today, I finally understand why Chinese is a nation which is always associated with greedy. That’s because Chinese always indulge themselves in gambling.
In the busiest heart of Wuhan, the Han Zhen Street, mahjong table is found everywhere. Instead of bothering the customers that pass by their shops, the businessmen or business lady here all enjoy in their mahjong world.
The action of the shopkeeper is standardized, have a glance at the customers, then continue looking at their tiles.
Well, although I don’t like a shopkeeper who is behind me every second, but as a customer, I really feel that I am not respected. The feeling I got from their attitude is really bad. As if they’re not willing me to buy things, rather, hoping me to go off earlier so that they can continue playing their mahjong.
It’s really a bad impression to the customers.
For these parts, I guess China Chinese should really have to change their habits. I can understand that sometimes sales is boring, especially when there’s no customers. But, did they ever think that why there’s no customer? To me, is because they do not respect customer.
Ok, let’s think, you’re a customer who wants to buy a pair of shoes. There’re 2 shops available, selling the same kind of shoes that you want. One shop is a shopkeeper is all on your service, helping you to take the shoe sizes you want. Whereas the other shopkeeper is playing mahjong, asking you to find it yourself. So which shop will you choose at last?
No doubt, the former.
What makes you to have such decision? Simple, because the attitude you get from the shopkeeper is different. The former makes you think that you’re a valued customer but the latter makes you feel that you’re ill-treated. You feel that the money you paid should deserve a better service, that’s why you choose the former.
Isn’t it?
So, in order to boost up their sales as well as china’s economic, they should really abolish this bad attitude. Before they want their sales to be improved, they should really consider upgrading their attitude towards their customers.
Labels: Maple's Special
Maple’s Special – 31
Do you know who Confucius is? He’s a great philosopher of ancient China. Though he lived in ancient times and passed away for long, his ideology still applies today.
There’s a Chinese saying under his ideology called ”一日为师，终身为师。” Meaning, if he’s your teacher for one day, you must respect him as your teacher forever.
Since long ago, student is taught to be disciplined and obey to teacher.
Respect to teacher is the most significant virtue that a student should possess. In feudal times, no student dares to say NO to teacher, teacher is just like “god” to them. They will follow accordingly to whatever teachers say, just like how the official obeys the imperial edict.
But times have changed, and so the attitude of students. In students’ eyes, teachers are no longer the strict, long faced old man, but someone who is approachable, feel free to discuss or argue with. It’s good for students to treat teacher like friend, as it will narrow down the wide gap between student and teacher.
However, when students are too close with teacher, somehow the respect to teacher will vanish. The way they talk to teacher will no longer be so polite and sometimes vulgar will appear. They will not feel bad when they’re late for class or talking in class as they regard the teachers as close friends, who can easily forgive them for such a “small” matter. This is the typical phenomenon I have seen in our society. And I thought it is common among the teenagers around the world. But China students’ reaction proved me wrong.
They’re still very respectful to teacher or lecturer. Even though they’re undergraduate students, they do not dare to have an open argument with teachers, on the topic of study. They feel it is very disrespectful. Same goes to talking in class, it’s kind of impossible for China students. Besides, they bow whenever they see their lecturers. When the bells ring, they wait for the lecturer to go out first, and they do not dare to overtake their teachers, just slowly follow at teacher’s back.
Looking at their studying style, I started to think that if we’re too open or they’re too obedient? Which is the best way for teachers to feel respected and students to feel close with teachers? Then I got a conclusion, we should follow part of their way in showing respect to teacher, as in small bow, punctual and no talking in class. This is the basic token for us to show our appreciation to teacher. However, I think that we should still continue our study discussion with teacher, as it is a best way for students and teachers to exchange their opinions. From that, teacher can understand what students think and think of ways to strengthen the weak part of students.
It’s really different, between China and Singapore students’ learning system. And we just have to extract out the essence from each.
Labels: Maple's Special
Sunny - 20⁰C
Before I start off, I would like to ask a simple question.
Did you ever realize that, we, being the most intelligent animals found in the earth, always take things for granted?
In Singapore, we switch on our air-conditioner extensively just for our own satisfaction without considering its consequences to the environment.
In Singapore, we switch on our computer 24/7 without even thinking off the energy wastage.
In Singapore, water supply is something that we think is cheap and hence use without control.
But, when we’re doing out these, did we realize, we’re actually bringing harm to our mother nature, the earth?
We never realize that, the CFC gas released by our air-conditioner has caused the pitiful polar bear getting extinct as their habitats are destroyed.
We never realize that, the electrical supply wasted by us is actually very needed by many poor people around the globe.
We never realize that, the importance of the water to the quenched elephants in the desert is actually meant for survival.
Just because we’re the most intelligent animal, just because we know how to invent things, does that mean that we can deprive the rights of other animals in leading their peaceful life?
In the movie – Earth, we commented that the fox and the leopard were @$%#$, hunting the pathetic yet innocent little sheep! We cursed them as they’re so cruel in killing such a small vulnerable animal.
But did we ever reflect it on ourselves? We, as human being, are worse than a fox or a leopard!
Perhaps we look innocent, do nothing to the animal, but at the same time, we’re silent killer. By means of pollution, we forced the animals to lose their places of living and lead them to the path of death.
Aren’t we more horrible than the predators?
We’re the culprit, yet we never bother to step out to help the environment.
In fact, all we need to do is just simple.
Say NO to plastic bag in supermarket.
Say NO to those CFC-releasing air-conditioner.
Say NO to energy wastage.
Say YES to car pool system.
Say YES to tree planting.
Say YES to recycle.
Isn’t this something achievable?
If yes, why don’t we practice from today?
I heard the urge. I want to save you, Mother Earth.
Labels: Maple's Story
Well, I realized that there’s an interesting part about human’s mind.
In Singapore, don’t know why, we will get excited when we saw Europeans. If we are able to have a photo shot with them, we will feel extremely proud. It’s kind of westernized worship or adore the Europeans as in our impression Europeans are great man. They’re smart, they’re powerful, they’re rich and their country is more advanced than ours. So we regard them as a higher social position people, and treat them with preferential treatment.
The same theory applies when we go to China. China Chinese regards us as higher social status people as Singapore is a much advanced country compared to them. Due to the pre-admiration, they will have an extra sense of joy or proud when they’re interacting with us in reality. Just like they way we’re engrossed in interacting with Europeans, the China Chinese are also excited communicating with us.
I guess this is all part of human psychology, the tricks of pre-admiration. Just like someone who we have heard of his great contribution for long, but never meet before. In our heart, somehow, the person’s image is preset. He is wise, he is nice, he is capable… etc. And when we’re meeting him up in real, the admiration will raise, and we will get excited as we think that we’re so lucky, to be able to interact with such an outstanding person. Isn’t this the common point of everybody?
But from this we can see how impactful the public praise is, as the public praise will somehow create pre-admiration in people’s mind, which can help to build up a nice image of you. And you may ask, what is so good about this nice image? It’s not going to help me since I do not have the chance to meet the people!
Do not look down on this great reputation as image is indeed crucial in business area. Never forget this; a good brand needs a great image. In daily interaction especially business, a good image is needed, as your partner will feel safe to put his trust on you.
So make yourself a useful brand. A brand of you, a brand of quality.
Labels: Maple's Special