Home>News Center>Life
         
 

Mainland twist to the bright tale of shoppers' paradise
By Liu Lian (China Daily HK Ediiton)
Updated: 2005-09-28 09:49

Reasons for alarm

And that's the reason for the alarm. As South China Research analyst Andes Cheng said: "The capability of retail service has yet to meet such an enormously growing demand... Sales assistants lacking professional training and work experience are hastily recruited by anxious store-owners to meet the urgent need to attend to the influx of mainland visitors."

"Discrimination and prejudice are still deeply rooted in Hong Kong people's minds," Cheng said. "Westerners are presumed rich and willing to spend money, hence they are more welcome."

It's high time retailers and all Hongkongers changed their attitude and helped create a prosperous market and harmonious society, she said.

Europeans and North Americans are usually well informed about electronic products, for example, and they prefer the lower prices here.

Hence, they seem to "give less trouble to salespersons". While mainlanders move from shop to shop for the "best product" and a better bargain, for most of them are not up-to-date on products they want to buy," Cheng said.

The study also found mainlanders are less worried about being sold fake products in Hong Kong than back home.

In fact, their major complaint is the poor understanding and speaking of Putonghua of the frontline service employees. Also, they don't like spending a long time waiting and putting in great effort into shopping.

The survey, to help retailers understand their performance better, interviewed 2,333 people.

All, except 41 of the completed questionnaires, were used for the statistical analysis.


Page: 12



Kidman to star in movie about husband hunt
Zhang Ziyi to star in New Martial Arts Period Drama
Miss International Beauty Pageant
  Today's Top News     Top Life News
 

Private pipeline to import Russian oil next year

 

   
 

Japan wants China, Russia to boost UN dues

 

   
 

Exporters face more US textile restrictions

 

   
 

Most want income tax threshold to be raised

 

   
 

Damrey leaves behind devastation, despair

 

   
 

Tokyo talks planned on disputed waters

 

   
  Mainland twist to the bright tale of shoppers' paradise
   
  Let experts, not political figures, draft laws
   
  Oliver Stone's 9/11 film to premiere Aug. 11
   
  Aerobics instructors paid more
   
  The return of the 'Sea Turtles': Reverse brain drain to China
   
  Nine-year-old boy devotes his heart to AIDS orphans
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Feature  
  Could China's richest be the tax cheaters?  
Advertisement