Doing Things in China
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Heres a conversation I had in a Beijing Bank of China and then again in Xian.
Nick: I'd like to draw some money of my credit card please.
Teller: You can't do that here.
Nick: Yes I can.
Manager: No, you can't do that here.
Nick: Yes I can, this is the Bank of China.
Manager: Ok
Teller: How much money would you like?
Why is it that when you are told you can't do something in China it inevitably means "too much paper work", "can't be bothered" or "can't think outside the square'.
You need to dig in your heels, be stubborn and push.
A wise old man (who now resides in Xiamen) once told me this, and it rings true:
In China nothing is possible and anything is possible.
But honestly most of the time I think people are just fucking with me.
posted by riceagain @ 11:46 AM,
8 Comments:
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At 3:34 AM,
Mark Baker said...
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On Good China Days, I thought people like that were afraid they'd do the paperwork the wrong way and "lose face in front of a foreigner." On Bad China Days, I also thought they were poking sticks at me. Really sharp pokey, pokey sticks.
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At 1:54 PM,
Pastey White Guy said...
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Ahh, words of wisdom from a crazy dutch man. We miss you, Peter!
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At 5:51 PM,
Pastey White Guy said...
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I'm coming to get you, Nick. You're number 5 on CBL and I'm number 6 now! Violet Eclipse is number 4... surprising that three of the 10 hottest china blogs are based out of Yantai.
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At 11:21 AM,
Josh said...
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I've pulled the Jedi Mind Trick on a taxi driver or two, but never on a bank manager. The Force must be strong in you.
Nice. -
At 3:48 PM,
Barbara said...
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hey give me a break i stink at ages.
that's why i tend to stick to vast generalizations.
how lovely that you found me on this world wide web...we should do it in person sometime soon. so i think i will take you up on your offer.
(13964562301) -
At 9:26 PM,
said...
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You think banks are frustrating experiences with what people can and can't do in China? Aiya... trying to get a customizable product manufactured is like running around in circles and trying to think of a dozen new ways of making a product to get it done in the right way.
Them: We can't do that, we don't have access to that kind of material.
Me: Can you dye it instead?
Them: Yes
Me: Can we do that, then?
Them: Well, to dye it we would have to do a minimum of xxx fabric.
Me: Can we do that?
Them: No.
Me: Why not.
Them:...
Me: What if we did it and had you give us the EXTRA fabric?
Them: Well, that would be a waste.
Me: I don't care.
Them: Well, it will cost $xxx
Me: Okay. Damn, that's expensive.
(later)
Me: Are you sure you can't get that kind of material?
Them: Yes, no can do.
Me: Can you send someone to look for it?
Them: Well, we have someone going out next week, we could ask them to look.
Me: So you CAN look for material?
Them: Yes. But not sure if we can find it.
Me: Can we do that, and if you can't find it, use the dye method?
Them: Yes.
Me: Minimum for dye method is xxx like you told me last time, right?
Them: No, its twice that.
Me: How could it be twice that?
Them:...
Me: (ah... they didn't know before or they are bullshitting me now, not much I can do about this...)
Check out The China Expat for stories (at some point in the future =) and translated news articles.
Leave a comment on the site and let me know what you think. -
At 2:14 AM,
jrsdhr said...
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这是垄断.
在中国的国有银行都是垄断的.
他们做事非常怕麻烦.
所以laowai们要更耐心一些.
对待laowai已经好多了，如果对待locals的话，情况会更糟糕。 -
At 5:49 PM,
said...
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Never go to the bank of china(full of scandles,),altough the name is quite something,it doesnt mean its the best, try the ICBC(industry and commercial bank of China),it is at least more popular. As a chinese,I hope u enjoy ur stay in China though,even though their lots of shity things going on,and guess thats why China is a DEVELOPING country
