The Silk Market in Beijing is not exactly what I expected in a city with such a long history.
Years ago, I lived in England for a year. I shopped at the local market. It was outdoors on the main street of the town. Vendors would set up in the same configuration every Wednesday. I guess I expected something similar and from what I understand, it used to be.
Today, the silk market is a multiple story building that occupies an entire city block.
We had been briefed on how this place works and after being glued to a tour group since arriving in China, I was ready to be alone for while.
Did I say “alone”? I must mean “on my own” because I was far from alone.
As soon as I entered the doorway, sales clerks in red vests started in. “Mister, Mister, Buy this ….” “Mister, Mister, your wife like a new…” “Mister, Mister, You want a new…..”
There were not hundreds, but what seemed to be thousands of stalls of more stuff than Walmart could dream of and not just silk, but everything. (Even iPods which most likely where not really iPods.)
The sales clerks called out as soon as I came into sight, sometimes following me or taking my arm to talk to me. The only way to move forward was to look straight ahead and keep walking. Eventually I reached the other end of the building and saw the mens room. I ducked in there for a moment to get away from the constant attention.
After gathering my wits, I decided to see the whole place. I determined to look like I knew where I was going and that I had a purpose. This seemed to help. I didn’t receive quite as much attention.
The way shopping works here is quite different than routine shopping in the US. A price is given in RMB (the Chinese currency) and is probably 10 or 20 times what you will eventually pay for the item. Back and forth one must bargain with the clerk until an agreement is made. Well that’s just not me.
I decided to try buying a silk scarf. That seemed like a typical thing to buy at the silk market.
A bit of luck! I came across a group of three young women from our group and observed that one of them seemed to be a very good bargainer. She was going back and forth with a clerk and was getting a reasonably good price. Eventually all three women started selecting piles of silk scarves. I asked what price they got.
I walked up to the clerk who started the whole routine again with me and I said, “Same deal!” She said, “Okay, and proceeded to give me price highly inflated over what the others were paying. I simply picked out the number of scarves negotiated as she kept at me. Finally I said, “Same deal!” again and handed her the money. She took it happily, gave me her business card and told me to send my friends.
Hmm…. I wonder how good this deal really was. Oh well, it was fun and it didn’t break the bank.
Oh, and by the way, if you are ever in Beijing, there’s this great sales clerk at the Silk Market. Her name is Sally. She’s on the third floor of the silk market near the escalator at the Hang Zhou Silk Shop. I can even give you her cell number. Tell her the teacher sent you.
More photos of the silk market in the gallery under Beijing, Silk Market.
Mr. Wood