Cheap Stuff Seems So Authentic In China

Made in China normally means that someone is worried about its quality, whether it contains lead, whether it was made in a sweat shop, and generally signifies the destruction of American small business because of Walmart.  But, in China, these same cheap goods (which ARE used by the Chinese too) seemed authentic and desirable.  Knockoffs were magically turned from trinkets sold on NYC street corners to the products that were stocked by the major market shopping area that was even controlled by the police.  Buying Made in China in China just seemed normal and right.  This really turned things upside down for me :)

There were markets for everything and there were very aggressive sales people who literally pulled me by my arm into their stalls.  However, cheap Rolex knockoffs were still $20!  Not quite so cheap.  In case you wondered whether they were real, when someone naively asked whether they were real, the street vender replied with a smile "Rolexs are thousands of dollars," leaving only the stupidest of ALL shoppers to wonder if they were getting the deal of the century or not.  Sadly and strangely, the ONLY thing that I wanted from this market was a plastic mug made to look like a camera lens (did I mention that I carry around 18 lbs of camera equipment with me all day every day?).  125 yuan was the price ($24).  OK, so I watched how bargaining at these markets went...if you walked away then the price would often come down by ten-fold.  I offered the lady 15 yuan.  She told me that I was crazy and that the best price she could give me on this knockoff PLASTIC mug was 125 (still about $24).  I walked away twice without seeing any further reduction in price...someone with mucho bucks must frequent these markets...otherwise I don't know how they stay in business.

My favorite shopping experiences are definitely those in which shopkeepers defy all logic by selling goods that are miraculously whatever you want them to be.  For example, I want a Mah Jong set that is made of Ox Bone.  "Is this made of Ox Bone." "Yes, of course, Ox Bone."  A minute of bargaining ensues (I have dropped the price 40% now).  Then, I say in an enthusiastic voice, "Now, is this plastic?" "Yes, of course, plastic!"  Perhaps an Ox Bone Plastic composite?  I think not.  Michelle bought a scarf one day because it was supposedly silk.  But, when she got home, the tag said polyester!  So, she returned it to the shop keeper.  Ohhh, that evil tag. Must do away with the tag.  Voila!  Five minutes later, the shopkeeper found an identical scarf that said silk on it!  Oh, why must tags cause so much trouble for shopkeepers?