|
Trends and Buzz
No more “stupid guys” at Beijing’s Silk MarketPosted by Dror Poleg, March 13, 2007 12:02 PM
 Realizing that the counterfeit goods orgy might be nearing its end, the Silk Market now tries to boost sales and re-position itself by fostering exceptional customer service among its employees. Late last year, the proprietors have erected various signs around the market, elaborating on proper ways to communicate with patrons. The signs (see image) recommend avoiding sentences such as “Shit!”, “Stupid Guys”, and “Just take it and leave me alone”, while encouraging employees to use “It’s my pleasure to help you” and “looks as though it was made only for you” more often. Thanks to Tami for the photo and the tip.
|
Partner Links
Jobs in China
Recent Comments
lyl on
The cult of a Super Girl
Jeremy Gol on
Danwei Canteen: Chestnut Chicken Stew
Gareth on
Gamble your life away in ZT Online
Inst on
The Mouse looms over Shanghai
Anonymous on
Giant Mao Zedong stands alone in the autumn cold
Joel Marti on
A centenarian monk reads the newspaper
Media Partners
Visit these sites for the latest China news
China Media Timeline
Major media events over the last three decades
Danwei Model Workers
 Recommended blogs and new media
Books on China
 Xujun Eberlein's Apologies Forthcoming: Hong Kong's Blacksmith Books has published a short story collection by Xujun Eberlein.
Princess Der Ling: Two Years in the Forbidden City: Two years in the Forbidden City is largely a reminiscence of the minutiae of life for one of history's most powerful women, by one of her court attendants, a Manchu noble's daughter by the name of Der Ling.
Carl Crow's The Long Road Back to China: In 1939 Carl Crow - an American journalist, advertising executive and author who had lived in Shanghai for 25 years until forced out by the Japanese - travelled up the Burma Road from Rangoon to Chongqing on assignment for Liberty magazine － 'the most interesting assignment I have ever been given'.
Front Page of the Day
A different newspaper every weekday
From the Vault
Classic Danwei posts
+ New Years Past: Other Spring Festivals by Geremie R. Barmé (2007.02): Sang Ye interviews two people about their experiences during Great Leap Forward-era Spring Festivals. Translated and annotated by Geremie R. Barmé. + Trend-spotting in online fiction (2007.06): An interview with Daniel Dan Fei (丹飞), publisher of Notes on Graverobbing (盗墓笔记), Rear Palace (后宫), and Those Ming Dynasty Things (明朝那些事). + China's 50 Most Beautiful People (2005.03): The Beijing News borrows a picture of Maggie Cheung from Cosmo for the cover of today's Entertainment insert, "50 Most Beautiful People in China". Ms. Cheung takes the top spot, with Takeshi Kaneshiro, Little S, Zhang Ziyi, and Liu Ye rounding out the top five in this exercise that is a conscious imitation of People magazine's yearly rundown.
Danwei Archives
Danwei Feeds
Via Feedsky
 (on the mainland)or Feedburner  (blocked in China) Main feed: Main posts (FB has top links) Top Links: Links from the top bar Danwei Jobs: Want ads Danwei Digest: Updated daily, 19:30 |
 |
Chinese media, advertising, and urban life. |
|
tweet
facebook
bookmark
HaoHao
digg
Comments on No more “stupid guys” at Beijing’s Silk Market
Sorry, but you just can't teach dogs to meow.
In these hardscrabble market scenarios where sellers are fighting for even a three mao profit, buyers should steel themselves for third world treatment and just be happy they are getting their counterfeited trinket to brag about to the folks back home.
There are many stupid customers at Silk Street.
And what's with the Hallo? Hallo?
Maybe its a stupid market for stupid costumers.
The best is the untranslated "Are you a real man?!" Ha. And they skipped the common, "You can't try that on! Your fat foreign ass will rip it!"
Hunxue'r, how did you figure "sellers are fighting for even a three mao profit" at these markets? I think that on average, they make at least 25% on everything they sell, and in many cases they make 300-400% or even more.
A lot of tourists are quoted a price that is 500%, then bargain all the way down to 400% and walk away happy with their new pair of socks/terracotta warrior/whatever.
Why would a sign in Beijing be written in traditional Chinese? Seems kinda odd, dontcha think?
@Wan An: Thanks so much for correcting me.
Who'da thought an actual Silk Market stall owner peruses English language blogs to keep current on comings and going?? Wow!
Hunxue'r - you own a stall on Silk Market? Wanna write an article about it?
Hunxue'r - who'd a thought a poster on Danwei could be so sarcastic.
ps. Wan An is perfectly correct, even if it does kick your post colonial studies liberalism into touch. The stall holders at Silk Market fighting for a 3 mao profit - are you kidding. Have you seen the rents at that place? No stallholder is heading into poverty quite yet.
After a three day gig in Beijing it was odd to see my colleagues suddenly sporting ugly polo shirts and LV bags and splashy watches looking like noveau riche trash, but they seemed to have a ball getting what they thought was inexpensive designer show off goods.