Korean Job Discussion Forums

Linda868 · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Location: Korea

I realize that it is better to adopt animals than to purchase one from a pet store. However, my husband and I fell in love with a particular cat by accident.

We went back to the store and asked the person how much the cat was. I was told 100. To me that means 100,000 wons. When I went to pay for it she put into her calculator 1,000,000 wons! The cat is some sort of spotted cat that they have had for 2 years (with no papers of whether she is purebred or not). I talked to some people and they said it should not cost me more than 300,000 wons. I went to a vet clinic where they said I could get a purebred kitten for 400,000 wons.

I feel like the owner was trying to rip us off. As well, I was thinking of bringing someone who can speak Korean to translate things better to find out why she is charging so much for her. Is it better if I just send a friend to go in and have a look or for me to tag along? I am not sure if she charging us a bunch cause she just views us as foreigners who will pay anything...

Thanks

KYC · Joined: 11 May 2006

erm sounds like it. Have a Korean friend come in alone and pretend to express interest and ask how much the cat is.

Howard Roark · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Location: Canada

It's likely there was a misunderstanding since Koreans express money in terms of 10 000's. So 100 means one hundred 10,000won notes, literally in Korean "bek man won" (100-10,000won) which is one million won to us.

It's still a ridiculous amount for a cat.

Yesterday · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 1:00 am Post subject:

any more info than "spotted cat" ??

do you know what breed it is?

for example - I could understand why it would be so expensive if it is the Egyptian Maus (a relatively rare breed to encounter) spotted cat -

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9Xe0-TBmQeM/RmAW9JLHF1I/AAAAAAAAAEM/Qz_8h3O32MI/s400/cat7%5B1%5D.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Mau

Linda868 · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Location: Korea

Thanks guy.

I am not sure what breed it is. I just know that it is an orange cat with black spots. From what I gathered I don't think its a purebred. She claims she paid 200 and she was giving it to us for 100. If she claims she bought it for 2,000,000 that seems excessive even for a purebred.... (at least for the Egyptian Maus when I googled it).

I think I will send a Korean friend in and check the prices of all her animals.

Forward Observer · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Location: FOB Gloria

Sounds like a calico cat. You can get cats free in this country.

Straphanger · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Chilgok, Korea

^^ This. Cats are free.

Forward Observer · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Location: FOB Gloria

Seriously wait another few days - look in buy/sell forums and get a free cat. People give cats away on these forums every other day.

makemischief · Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Location: Traveling

I have a cat now whose previous owners paid 500,000 won for her. She's a great cat, but she's just a normal average street cat with no papers or anything. Mental. Thankfully I got her for free.

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 6:38 am Post subject:

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 6:42 am Post subject:

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

I can go grab you a cat right now if you like.
There's a spotted orange animal with soft white fur on the belly that with a bit of a bath and scents would be wonderful.
Shall we say, 300 000 won?
I can get you a tortoiseshell. Say just 40 of those green notes for a fine exotic species - It's an Asian cat.
I'll deliver. Either cat, or both for 600 000.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

A cat isn't going to cost you more than 300,000 won. I've seen Russian greys before for 300,000 won. If I spent that much money, that's what I would get, but you can get cats from the people who rescue cats. I don't think she meant a million won. She probably meant 100,000 won for the cat.

Many Koreans have trouble with English numbers and might say 10,000 instead of 1,000. When compared to many countries in the world, it's not common to be ripped off in Korea when buying from merchants, but it does happen here and there to foreigners. I would suggest you go elsewhere if this isn't a special breed.

If you really have your heart set on that particular cat for some reason, you could bargain with the woman and get it for 50-60,000 won. I think you meant she wanted you to pay 100,000 won (ship man won).

I don't believe one would originally pay 200,000 won for a regular cat. She would say that to justify charging you 100,000 won. It's a common sales technique.

DCJames · Joined: 27 Jul 2006