Punch lines--my learning curve!
I went to Xi'An, China for the Asian Archery Championships.. and things had to happen.. again.. to me...
Normally, when money is being exchanged at the money changers, the denominations given are huge, ie, $100 bills etc. Very rarely u would get pennies or nickles after the exchange. Hence, i was very sure that the small change of 1 yuan (a coin) was given to me from a departmental store. The first few days of shopping would be done at departmental stores or convenience stores. I wont go to the road side stalls yet... This is because my coach is super strict on us going out of our rooms and loiter in the streets during competition time.. She fears that we'll meet with some freak accident.. but hey, i am JENNIFER! WOULD I STAY PUT??!! Sub-consciously I had compromised, abit, shopped at the departmental stores instead.
In short, I went shopping at a reputable departmental shop (I always believe that a shop with air-con, a huge retail space, price tags = departmental shop), broke my big notes and left for my hotel. The next day, i went to another shop and made payment. I hate coins… tend to use them up once I have them. Part of the payment made was a 1 Yuan coin and so I thought.
It was a rusty coin, so eroded that there is no cravings on It. Being a same size as any other 1 Yuan coin, I assumed that its one. I don’t go China often and also I don’t know much about foreign currencies, so guessing would be the next best thing. There are times when I’ll just take out all my notes and let the cashier take from me since I don’t know which is which anyway.
This coin was rejected by the sales guy. He said this to me. ‘This is fake money and you were cheated’. I retorted, ‘cant be, I got this from one of the reputable stalls, IMPOSSIBLE to be cheated and IMPOSSIBLE to be fake!!’ I stressed it.. already feeling embarrassed, I needed to state it out that it is really IMPOSSIBLE!!
Punch Line 1
Answer from salesman: ‘Real money will never erode’!!
THE EMBARRASSMENT!!
I tried out that ‘coin’ at every vending machine I saw to test if it is really fake. For that, I lost a real one in one of the vending machines while the fake one keeps getting ‘rejected’. Okok.. I refused to accept reality!!
Took their public bus and went to somewhere with more shopping. I had to get souvenirs; it’s a norm for me for my juniors and also to my friends who are always supporting me and also for me as remembrance.
Xi’An is the place of the terra cotta warriors. The whole area is ‘decorated’ with the terra cotta warrior figurines. I was ogling at a set of such figurines and keychains. I was told when in China, always slash prices by 2 thirds of the price given by the seller. i admit, I suck at such haggling. But I still tried. I said that I’ll be going to the original site of the terra cotta warriors the next day. This line was said to ‘threaten’ the lady that if she don’t sell me cheap, I’ll go to the place of origin, ie alternative place. Whats more if its from the place of origin, it would be cheaper (the main factory would sell it at its cost price as its not jacked up by the malls).
Punch Line 2
Answer from lady seller: ‘Things sold at places of interest would definitely be more expensive, eg, when you shop at the Zoo, are things sold there more expensive?’
AHhh…sounded so correct.
With that, I didn’t manage to really get a cut in prices but after doing a mental count, it was quite cheap anyway and that a cut would seem ridiculous for them to be earning much from me.
I went to the terra cotta the next morning as I had finished my competition. To my horror, I saw so many peddlers selling the exact same set that I had bought (opps.. did I mention, I bought 4 sets?). There the hawkers were trying to out-do each other. The price of that set of keychains and figurines---as low as 5 Yuan.. Jennifer’s price? 38 Yuan!! I got a cut from 40 to 38!! !@#$%^
Punch Line 3
My friend’s empathetic answer: ‘Eh… These are fakes and there are no such things as originals from the place of origin. They will crowd here to do their sales because they expect tourist to come here! Price will AUTOMATICALLY go down!’
*KO-ed*
I felt light-headed. My heart bled as I walked down the lane towards the exit. The prices I hear the sellers shout out were getting lower and some even threw in free gifts which I had paid for!! I refused to do a mental count on my losses.. sob..
CHINA… FROM THE EYES OF JENNIFER….
Normally, when money is being exchanged at the money changers, the denominations given are huge, ie, $100 bills etc. Very rarely u would get pennies or nickles after the exchange. Hence, i was very sure that the small change of 1 yuan (a coin) was given to me from a departmental store. The first few days of shopping would be done at departmental stores or convenience stores. I wont go to the road side stalls yet... This is because my coach is super strict on us going out of our rooms and loiter in the streets during competition time.. She fears that we'll meet with some freak accident.. but hey, i am JENNIFER! WOULD I STAY PUT??!! Sub-consciously I had compromised, abit, shopped at the departmental stores instead.
In short, I went shopping at a reputable departmental shop (I always believe that a shop with air-con, a huge retail space, price tags = departmental shop), broke my big notes and left for my hotel. The next day, i went to another shop and made payment. I hate coins… tend to use them up once I have them. Part of the payment made was a 1 Yuan coin and so I thought.
It was a rusty coin, so eroded that there is no cravings on It. Being a same size as any other 1 Yuan coin, I assumed that its one. I don’t go China often and also I don’t know much about foreign currencies, so guessing would be the next best thing. There are times when I’ll just take out all my notes and let the cashier take from me since I don’t know which is which anyway.
This coin was rejected by the sales guy. He said this to me. ‘This is fake money and you were cheated’. I retorted, ‘cant be, I got this from one of the reputable stalls, IMPOSSIBLE to be cheated and IMPOSSIBLE to be fake!!’ I stressed it.. already feeling embarrassed, I needed to state it out that it is really IMPOSSIBLE!!
Punch Line 1
Answer from salesman: ‘Real money will never erode’!!
THE EMBARRASSMENT!!
I tried out that ‘coin’ at every vending machine I saw to test if it is really fake. For that, I lost a real one in one of the vending machines while the fake one keeps getting ‘rejected’. Okok.. I refused to accept reality!!
Took their public bus and went to somewhere with more shopping. I had to get souvenirs; it’s a norm for me for my juniors and also to my friends who are always supporting me and also for me as remembrance.
Xi’An is the place of the terra cotta warriors. The whole area is ‘decorated’ with the terra cotta warrior figurines. I was ogling at a set of such figurines and keychains. I was told when in China, always slash prices by 2 thirds of the price given by the seller. i admit, I suck at such haggling. But I still tried. I said that I’ll be going to the original site of the terra cotta warriors the next day. This line was said to ‘threaten’ the lady that if she don’t sell me cheap, I’ll go to the place of origin, ie alternative place. Whats more if its from the place of origin, it would be cheaper (the main factory would sell it at its cost price as its not jacked up by the malls).
Punch Line 2
Answer from lady seller: ‘Things sold at places of interest would definitely be more expensive, eg, when you shop at the Zoo, are things sold there more expensive?’
AHhh…sounded so correct.
With that, I didn’t manage to really get a cut in prices but after doing a mental count, it was quite cheap anyway and that a cut would seem ridiculous for them to be earning much from me.
I went to the terra cotta the next morning as I had finished my competition. To my horror, I saw so many peddlers selling the exact same set that I had bought (opps.. did I mention, I bought 4 sets?). There the hawkers were trying to out-do each other. The price of that set of keychains and figurines---as low as 5 Yuan.. Jennifer’s price? 38 Yuan!! I got a cut from 40 to 38!! !@#$%^
Punch Line 3
My friend’s empathetic answer: ‘Eh… These are fakes and there are no such things as originals from the place of origin. They will crowd here to do their sales because they expect tourist to come here! Price will AUTOMATICALLY go down!’
*KO-ed*
I felt light-headed. My heart bled as I walked down the lane towards the exit. The prices I hear the sellers shout out were getting lower and some even threw in free gifts which I had paid for!! I refused to do a mental count on my losses.. sob..
CHINA… FROM THE EYES OF JENNIFER….
posted by Uncontainable | 8:58 AM
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