Creative Critics » 2010 http://blog.blanquart.be Koens comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:14:24 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Chinese scam artists http://blog.blanquart.be/2010/09/08/chinese-scam-artists/ http://blog.blanquart.be/2010/09/08/chinese-scam-artists/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:59:11 +0000 koen http://blog.blanquart.be/2010/09/08/chinese-scam-artists/ When in Shanghai as a tourist (and being Caucasian, I can not hide that in China), you will be approached by types such as Jack here. Friendly person, that will explain you that he is an art student at the university, take you to a shop and try to sell you one of his works there for a ridiculous price (200RMB or more for example for the drawings in the picture). So I enjoyed challenging his art knowledge and kept calling him a better sales than painter, till he was fed up with me and left – no sale :-)

Nevertheless, Jack was an extremely efficient and friendly salesman. I bought some paintings later (elsewhere) for 1/4th of his best price.

Just as a warning: you will also meet young Chinese people that will approach you under several excuses: “do you like to see the real China?” and “Can we hang out with you to practice our English?”. This will end in a traditional tea party in a tea house, where you will be presented after with a huge bill for the tea. So – when you go with these people, never accept anything before you have seen a menu/list with prices.

Had a great time in Shanghai, because once you are aware of the above schemes, you can really play the game :-)

Chinese scam artist “jack”, originally uploaded by Koen BL.

When in Shanghai as a tourist (and being Caucasian, I can not hide that in China), you will be approached by types such as Jack here. Friendly person, that will explain you that he is an art student at the university, take you to a shop and try to sell you one of his works there for a ridiculous price (200RMB or more for example for the drawings in the picture). So I enjoyed challenging his art knowledge and kept calling him a better sales than painter, till he was fed up with me and left – no sale :-)

Nevertheless, Jack was an extremely efficient and friendly salesman. I bought some paintings later for 1/4th of his best price.

Just as a warning: you will also meet young Chinese people that will approach you under several excuses: “do you like to see the real China?” and “Can we hang out with you to practice our English?”. This will end in a traditional tea party in a tea house, where you will be presented after with a huge bill for the tea. So – when you go with these people, never accept anything before you have seen a menu/list with prices.

Had a great time in Shanghai, because once you are aware of the above schemes, you can really play the game :-)

]]> http://blog.blanquart.be/2010/09/08/chinese-scam-artists/feed/ 2 In tijden van vrede op aarde http://blog.blanquart.be/2009/12/28/kerstmis-2009/ http://blog.blanquart.be/2009/12/28/kerstmis-2009/#comments Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:25:02 +0000 koen http://blog.blanquart.be/?p=413
  • De weegschaal heeft laten weten dat het kerstdiner niet alleen lekker maar ook calorievol was;
  • De neefjes zijn – tot wanhoop van de ouders – weer verwend door suikernonkels en grootouders. We moeten ervan profiteren, zolang we dat kunnen zonder eerst gescreend te worden;
  • De kerstboom overweegt om een tapijt van naalden aan te leggen;
  • Ik heb tussen kerst en nieuw tijd om even tot adem te komen na een dermate druk half jaar dat zelfs bloggen er niet in zat.;

    • Voor elk van jullie een late zalige kerst en een mega-succesvol jaar en decennium in al wat jullie willen ondernemen!

    PS: Ik deel mijn goede voornemens mee aan het einde van het jaar, niet meer aan het begin – kwestie van haalbaarheid te verbeteren :-)

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