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Shopping
Text: M.E Cavanaugh (U.S.A)
Material from China Tourism Magazine Bimonthly
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 You can get some REAL bargains! Generally things cost the same or a little less there in
Chinese dollars (Renminbi) as they do
here in dollars (except advanced technology
products, cameras, calculators, etc.). At
the same time, the exchange rate is more
than 8 yuan to one dollar I have heard of
cases in which people had "paid fOr the trip"
with savings from purchases, or so they believed.
Also, while the street vendors "bargain", and purchases are time consuming with no returns, the large department stores (the biggest covers 120.000 square feet on eight levels) have one price for all with the same return policies as we have here. While you might be able to get a slightly better price on the street, the time you spend bargaining, and the inability to return the merchandise isn't worth it, unless
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you like that sort of thing and are sure you want to keep the purchase. I think the local Chinese agree; a lot of them shop in the
large department stores (and don't even try to bargain). The quality of the most things there is good and excellent. You need worry about it
much less than in most of parts of the world. I did my shopping in the department stores, where possible. I didn't want to waste my vacation
time haggling.
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