您是来中国旅游还是来买便宜货？

您是来中国旅游还是来买便宜货？
-一个老外的自白
导游网 www.daoyou.org 转自 环球周刊

 

I get more e-mails on this topic than any other. From CDs to DVDs to T-shirts to boots and jackets. It's all here. Everywhere. Nowhere is cheaper or beter than anyone else, no matter what any China shopping guru tells you. However, there are some points worth remembering. Those of us who live here generally stock up on decent clothing, DVDs, CDs, T-shirts, boots and jackets when we travel overseas. The reason? Simple.

1) The quality of the fake stuff you buy here is crap. Seriously bad. Watches that are 30 minutes slow within 3 hours of purchase. Boots that are peeling apart within 24 hours. Socks that wear through on the second outing. A suitcase which fell to bits on the way back to the hotel, 80 metres from the shops.

2) It is really difficult to find places to buy 'ordinary' gear, and damn near impossible to buy proper CDs and DVDs within 1,000km. Be warned that the 'savings' on all the fake stuff are largely an illusion. Especially if you pay anywhere above 15% of the initial asking price. Even then it's marginal. Also be aware that bringing fake goods into many countries is now a criminal offence and you can face heavy fines or worse. The clothing (especially) looks good but, trust me on this, it falls to pieces fast. Real fast. I don't have a single item of clothing bought in China that is worth the cheap rice I paid for it. Caveat emptor. Customs officer emptor.

 

Buy unbranded goods if you want cheap goods. Let's face it...why are you spending precious holiday time buying cheap copies of $120 sneakers? Is it really that important? DVDs? Yep. Buy 50 of them here. 45 will be unwatchable (low DVD production quality), and the other 5 will be unwatchable (low film production quality). CDs? The sound quality is poor. The choice is poor except for music that a Chinese CD-making middle man in a backstreet shop in Xiamen thinks you will like. He, by the way, thinks that Kenny G, Richard Clayderman and Yanni are great. He thinks you do too.

 

Buy original stuff at home if you want value. Buy fakes in China is you are a cheapskate but are keen to impress people with a Rolex or a Omega watch. Do have your excuse ready when people ask where it is a month later when it has fallen apart though.

 

关键词：

guru 权威：在一个领域内公认的领导者：the guru of high finance.巨额融资的权威
off the beaten track 人迹罕至的
His colleagues are planning to go somewhere off the beaten track for the summer holidays.
他的同事们正计划到不大有人去的地方度暑假。
giveaway n.泄漏, 免费样品
outdated adj. 已经不流行的; 过时的; 陈旧的, 古风的 an outdated building 老式的建筑物
stock up v.备货, 囤积
decent adj.尚可的；过得去的；像样的 a decent house一所像样的房子He made a decent record.他成绩尚佳。
crap n.废物;排泄物；粪便 无意义的话；大话；废话

fell to pieces 破碎

illusion n. 幻觉；幻影 错觉 I have no illusions about his ability.我对他的能力不存幻想。

asking price n.索价, 要价

Criminal offence 犯罪行为

unbranded goods 非名牌的商品

backstreet shop 街头小店

wear through 穿破 An excursion, typically a pleasure trip.远足：短途旅游，尤指愉快的旅行
cheapskate n.<美俚>守财奴,吝啬鬼
omega n.希腊语最后一个字母[Ω, ω]; 终止, 末尾; 结论; 最后一个;【数】自然数有序序列的序数(常用ω表示);【物】Ω粒子, Ω-超子; Ω介子 from alpha to omega 始末, 自始至终

fall apart To break down; collapse: 破坏；倒塌： The rickety chair fell apart. He fell apart after years as a POW. 摇晃的椅子散架了。 作战俘多年，他崩溃了.