Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tzechuk]

I am Chinese. My mother was born in Beijing and before whenever I went to Beijing, I would stay with my great aunt (who died a couple of years ago). My great aunt's daughter - I suppose she'd be my aunt - would take me to the silk street - xio shui jie (I don't know if it's still there, last I heard they were demolishing it?) - and she would teach me how to bargain. She would manage to get something that cost 500 yuan down to 50!

Anyway, a couple of years ago, I went to Beijing with my husband and decided to go shopping ourselves. We went back to xio shui jie and I thought I'd try out my bargaining skills... lol.. I managed to get 10 sets of those silk pjs with matching dressing gown for 500 yuan. They had asked for 500 yuan EACH and I said no.. I would buy 10 sets for 500 yuan. After a lot of haggling, the woman decided to let me have them. Honestly though, my aunt told me that the cost to produce one of these sets is only about 20 yuan...

Towards the end of our shopping spree (we had to buy 2 extra suitcases...LOL), I was told by one of the merchants there that I could haggle better than them! It was quite satisfying!

[paperbag princess]

don't do one of those rip-off tours. you can get a cheap hotel and then go to tienamin square during the day to take a day tour. the tours rush you through the good stuff and then they take you to the shops where you can buy useful things like life-sized jade hippos