Just got back from shopping at the fabric market with two of my friends from SLU and my host sister. The fabric market is three levels of stores packed with vendors selling coats, suits, dresses, silk, ties, belts, jewelry and more. I was sure to bring a limited cash supply going in, but I made out much better than I thought I would, even considering the cheap prices.
I bought... four ties (100 quai), 1 cashmere coat (500 quai), 1 grey suit (330 quai) and two shirts (190 quai). Keep in mind that all has to be tailored because I am much larger than most Chinese men. Thats a grand total of 1,120 RMB, or about 160 USD, pretty good deal.
My sister said I did a good job of bargaining down the price of my jacket, they initially offered it to me at 680 RMB, I told them I could get the same thing for 500 (truth). They then tried to convince me that theirs was of much higher quality (truth), I told them I didn't care (lie). Anyways they went from 680 to 620 to 600, to 560 to 550 to 520 and then very reluctantly to 500 (yes!). 500 RMB is about 75 dollars.
Anyways we had a good time, also got some good quality time in with my Zhong Guo chichi(China Sister).
-AL
P.S. I've been neglecting to tell you all my Chinese name, Li Anze. Li is my family name and Anze literally translates to "safe water land." There is no symbolic reason why that's my name it just happens to sound the closest to 'Andrew Leiser.'
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Hey Li Anze -- Sounds like that was a good outing. It's nice that you had some time to spend with your chichi. Is her English good enough that you can carry on a pretty good conversation with her? I guess you'll be a well dressed man when you return. Too bad they didn't have any boxers...
ReplyDeleteHey Andrew: Don't let your host mom laundry your coat and suit. :) Thanks for the updates.
ReplyDeleteHave fun.... love ya.
oooh sounds like a wonderful little shopping experience. mom is right, sounds like you are going to be looking pretty spiffy when you return to the good ol'USA.
ReplyDeleteHer English isn't as bad as my Chinese but it's not great so we use very small English and Chinese words.
ReplyDelete