AQ for shops on China.,I think on their Shopmetrics side, not their Sassie side. Also Albatross and International Service Check.

Absolutely. When we went, we each took an extra pair of jeans and a few t-shirts, underwear, and a warm jacket -- the entire remainder of our luggage was taking Tony things he couldn't buy in China. He was teaching English as a 2nd language, but he wanted to use music in the classes, so we took him harmonicas (yep -- made in China; not AVAILABLE in China), Jews Harps, and simple flutes. We also took him pyjamas, t-shirts, sunblock, aspirin, bandaids, hydrogen peroxide, toothpaste, electric toothbrushes, and underwear. We also took him garden seeds, and found out when we got there that was highly illegal. They were confiscated. (After we got back to Nebraska, we mailed him the same types of seeds -- and he received them in the mail. I appreciated the irony of that.)

We actually had quite a lot of fun running around trying to find enough flutes and harmonicas here (I think we ended up ordering some off Amazon; IIRC, they were shipped to us here FROM China, ROTFLOL!). Not much more available in rural Nebraska than they are in rural China, LOL.

The people, especially the children, were wonderful, warm and welcoming. The respect accorded us as two "old ladies", and one of them being the teacher's mom, was notable.

We felt safe everywhere we went, and learned there is very little of what we call "street crime". Of course, us not knowing the language, we could have been unknowingly in danger. We saw parks without one shred of litter anywhere, wide boulevards that looked like they were swept clean daily, and families of mom, dad, and kids all squeezed on a tiny scooter zipping along.

Rural China is as different from urban China as rural Nebraska is from New York City.

@wwin wrote:

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

Coyle, as we speak, has many shops in China...where ya been girl? Everything you buy these days is made in parts of China, retail is booming there.

I agree things are in constant flux in China. The everything made in China statement is similar to what I said exasperated one day when we were living there years ago. "Everything is made in China, why can't I get any of it!". Most items were made for export and never sold in the country. I couldn't find Diapers, strollers, shoes above a size 9, clothes that fit, A tape measure (yes I had to have someone in the states send me a tape measure). Friends still take suitcases full of items back when they go visit (and not just chocolate and VSOP).

@ceasesmith wrote:

I find cities HERE overwhelming. Go ahead and laugh, anything over 20,000 people is a MAJOR city to me, LOL!!!

That might be the larger component of the disconnect, ceasesmith. It's probably more about urban vs. rural than China vs. America.

For me, going from Los Angles to China felt natural, with the cities being slightly bigger. The traffic, city life, food stalls and such made me feel at home....

Couldn't agree more, Steve.

When my daughter returned via Hong Kong after visiting Thailand and various places, what amazed her was they had showers at the airport for 35.00....they are advanced. I agree,
comparing China to say Hong Kong would be like comparing Kansas to New York, not a comparison. Everyone's experience while travelling is just that, their experience.

I began traveling to China in 2006. I have been there dozens and dozens of times. In 2006 (and for a few years afterward), there were still many stores owned by the Chinese government. At least in large cities, they have all closed. Service was close to non-existent. But even then, there were many upscale malls filled with expensive western brands. And those stores were seeking local Chinese clients, and their service was on par with what would be expected in a Hermes or Breitling or Dior or whatever shop elsewhere. And the prices were the same. Some who have posted above make reference to what happens in alleys, in the back part of more legitimate stores, in subway stations, etc. I have visited some of them. I knew what I was buying. I knew that I was not going to be able to return anything. Comparing those locations to stores in upscale malls is similar to comparing flea markets in the US to upscale malls. They are not the same. There is no expectation that they will be the same. I never felt unsafe in China. I walked around Shanghai and Beijing by myself. I tried to be aware of where I was and of my surroundings. There are parts of cities in China that I would not travel to, just like there are parts of cities in my home state where I will not venture to do mystery shops. I know people (even some of my colleagues) who were afraid to go to China, or Brazil, or Mexico, and even some who were afraid to go to Western Europe. Going to China with a friend because the friend is afraid to go alone does not mean that there was a reason to be afraid. I have traveled extensively in Southeast Asia and South America, and there are counties and areas of countries which are, IMHO opinion, dangerous. But China as a whole is not dangerous, and service levels in China vary dramatically from one type of store to another. As others have mentioned, Coyle regularly posts MS assignments in many 1st, 2nd, and 3rd tier cities in China.

Myst, my friend was in her 70's, had never flown, had never been out of the USA.

It wasn't that she was frightened for her physical safety (we felt safe everywhere we went in China)....she was frightened in the sense of overwhelmed.

@ceasesmith wrote:

Myst, my friend was in her 70's, had never flown, had never been out of the USA.

It wasn't that she was frightened for her physical safety (we felt safe everywhere we went in China)....she was frightened in the sense of overwhelmed.

...and this is why I am truly grateful for MSing. While I did the expected backpacking and hostels through Europe trips during college, my first real travel as an adult was through MSing, and it opened up my eyes and mind to world travel. I would not have a Chinese visa would it not be for MSing. I would never have skied in Aspen, played golf on a Caribbean island or taken cooking classes in Thailand without MSing. I would not have rented a car in places where you drive on the left, sent back a $100 bottle of wine, or felt comfortable going to a cannabis dispensary and asking a bunch of questions without MSing.

And now...I find myself the kind of person who takes on challenges without being forced to. The kind of person who helps friends get passports and travel to overwhelmingly strange lands. Good for you for being there for your friend, ceasesmith!

It's OK to be uncomfortable stepping out of your comfort zone. What's important is taking the step, and those things get more comfortable with experience.

I'm in China now, pay rate is low here, anyone knows companies provide works in China but their company is not here, let me know, thank you.

Costco just opened up in Shanghai. I heard that they sold 100,000 memberships the first week. Two more are in the works.