Job Discussion Forums

featherp · Joined: 12 May 2011 Posts: 10

thanks everyone for your responses some great ideas there especially stocking up and arranging care parcels. love it.

xjgirl · Joined: 02 Feb 2010 Posts: 242

one word.

METRO

Steve_McQueen · Joined: 04 Dec 2009 Posts: 37

From what I've read, you need a membership to shop at Metro. Not that that's a problem, but apparently in one city they aren't giving them out to foreigners who don't run a business.

Can anyone confirm this?

Banner41 · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 656 Location: Shanghai

My school got me a membership at Metro for free. They just needed a copy of FEC and a letter from the school saying that I worked there.

ymmv · Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 387

Yes, Metro is no problem. I have a membership arranged by my school. But I know others who have no membership and they just show up and are given a temporary card (slip of paper actually) for use that day.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

The things I always stock up on or take are -

Deodorant as already mentioned many times. Even if I find it in China, its isnt likely to be as cheap as the 4 RMB I can get it for in the UK.

A 4 way plug adaptor thing. I have a laptop, phone charger, digital camera charger, ebook reader and all need plugging in. Plug the 4 way into an international plug adaptor thing and Im set. Again, very cheap to buy at home, and makes life much easier.

And finally ... tea bags. Lots and lots of tea bags. Us Brits are quite partial to ccups of tea and I always pack 100s of them on trips to China. Normally gets slated on the forum, (tea in China, WTF?) but buying Liptons type tea in China is really expensive and is poor quality when compared to buying at home.

chengdude · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 294

petebeatstreet · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:51 pm Post subject:

Johnny_Utah · Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 35

Never had trouble finding deodorant in Beijing. They even have chinese AXE knock off deodorant sprays. You don't even have to look hard, just go to carefor or walmart Confused

I see plenty of Macara and Q tips about as well..maybe you guys should stop shopping exclusively in the Chinese corner shops. Two things I have yet to find in Beijing: Diet Dr. Pepper, and Nacho Cheese Dorritoes

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

@petebeatstreet - We'd get on well. Do you smoke as well? Nothing I like more than making a cup of good old English tea and having a cheap box of Chinese cigarettes on hand!

@johnny_utah - Not everyone is in Beijing or has access to those kind of supermarkets. TBH, I have spent around 2.5 years in China, and have never seen a Wal-Mart .... cant recall ever visiting a Carrefour, although I think I have passed one en-route to another place

chengdude · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 294

marmot · Joined: 22 Apr 2011 Posts: 14 Location: Shanghai

Proper beard and mustache trimmers, hair clippers. I left those at home thinking I could easily get them here and was I ever naive. I forgot the Chinese can't really grow facial hair so there is no real need for such things here. It took quite a lot of searching around the city but I finally found a good Philips brand and paid much more here than I would have in the states.

Banner41 · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 656 Location: Shanghai

There is a HUGE difference finding things in Beijing vs. finding things in some of the "outposts" most teachers end up at. If it's a bigger city ie. one with a Metro, finding what you need will be rather easy. If not, that is where the difficulty comes in. Plan accordingly. I used to take a train once a month to the nearest Metro 2 hours away. Was worth it for the odds and ends needed.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Halapo · Joined: 05 Sep 2009 Posts: 140 Location: Jiangsu, China

Oh Ghad! Beard trimmer and hair clippers! How could I forget that! Same problem, it took me 2 years to find one in China ( also a Philips! ).

Rubber Spatula! I miss them so much. I am guessing you are talking about a flame/melt resistant one right? You know, that can be used when cooking eggs without adding some lovely plastic to your breakfast...

Relish! Mustard too! Mind-boggling that I can crave something I would turn my nose up at home as badly as relish ( Mustard is simply great ).

If you can find a chain store like Watsons, Carafour and yes even Walmart ( there have been a bunch opening up here in the 2nd and 3rd tier cities the last two years ) you will be set. However, their shelves can be stocked one week and then empty of the goods you want for months.

If you are not living in Beijing or Shanghai you should keep the mindset supplies will fluctuate a lot. I have made a habit of always carrying a bit of extra cash ( 500RMB, its my "lucky day" money), in-case I see something I wasn't really looking for, but I can really use, even when I am not out shopping.