Shopping in China »Get to know China
People who have the opportunity to travel to China , in addition to visiting truly spectacular monuments, can make all kinds of purchases; And it is that the Chinese market offers very succulent products at a good price.
In China we can buy a wide variety of handicrafts, such as ceramics, prints, bronze jewelry, jade and a very long etcetera. But in addition, China is characterized by offering branded products at fairly discounted prices. We can find handbags, clothes, watches and all kinds of accessories at a really interesting price.
All these products and many more we can get them in different places. We can, for example, go to the shopping centers to enjoy a pleasant afternoon of shopping. Thus, in places like Beijing or Shanghai there are department stores where you can buy all kinds of brands. However, it should be emphasized that in these places prices are not as low as we might expect, being very similar to the European average.
In China, traditional shopping areas are also very common. Here we will find endless small shops with all kinds of crafts and souvenirs. While it is true that in some cases we can find quite inflated prices, as a general rule they should not be exorbitant prices.
You have to look for them in the traditional neighborhoods of cities such as Beijing or Xian, areas where we will find from the typical fridge magnet or even large tea houses with an incredible variety, a most recommended gift given the place where we are .
It is important to know that the sale of imitations of branded products is pursued in China. They can be found, but it is convenient to consider other options, as we could possibly encounter customs problems.
There are also large craft stores. They are oriented to tourism, but we can find quite interesting objects. Normally on any tour we will be given the opportunity to know some of these stores. Prices are not cheap, but in many cases it is the only option to get certain pieces.
We will find, among many others, decorative elements in jade or bronze, Chinese ceramics, clothes made of silk, pearls or souvenirs more typical as the terracotta figures of the warriors of Xian.
- Baggage problem
There are some things to keep in mind when buying in China regarding our plane trip. For starters, the companies will impose a maximum weight on us, so if we don't want to go over that weight on our return, it may be more interesting to travel with a slightly empty suitcase.
Also, as we have commented previously, imitations are prohibited. If at the airport they make us open the suitcase and find them, in addition to requisitioning them they will sanction us financially.
As for technology, it is possible to buy technology and pass it through customs. However, we are the same, if they are fakes they will surely throw them back, in addition to those fakes often do not give good results when they get home, because they copy only the external and visual part of the product.
- Bargaining
Bargaining in China is practiced. However, we must know that not in all places; and it is that although it is true that in the smaller stores it is a habitual practice, in the big surfaces like the commercial centers, with a much more western atmosphere, this type of bargaining is not viable.
In the bargaining one must know that the seller will always ask us for a price that is much higher than what the product really has. Thus, we have to be clear that we never have to pay more than a third of the initial price they ask us.
In bargaining, patience is a really beneficial weapon; and it is necessary to bear in mind that this type of practice is almost an art. We must not succumb to the good seller's arts that are shown to us, since the truth is that they will try to deceive us as it is. We must remain firm and always be clear about the price we are willing to pay so as not to leave too much of it.