|
One of my coworkers has an uncle that's a customs official in Shenzhen that claims to make 4-5 million rmb per year from bribes.
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 09:17
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 15, 2024 09:29 |
|
|
Jeoh posted:If I can get a visa with a fake plain text flight reservation, what's stopping you from faking a receipt? Mostly because I'm not sure whether to provide a fake receipt for personal toiletries or a real one for medicine. I have no problem with providing false information but the truth is better if they bother to check and there's no legal problem with the truth. Yeah Fedex just got back to me like "dude, don't fill out that part just send us a website screenshot with a price and your passport number" so I'm once again overthinking things. Arglebargle III fucked around with this message at 09:41 on Dec 23, 2013 |
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 09:36
|
|
|
Arglebargle III posted:I've got a Fedex package sitting in customs. It was labeled personal toiletries but actually contains (uncontrolled) prescription medicine. As in not the kind of stuff you would get in trouble for having. They want me to identify myself and provide some kind of proof that the item is below 1000 rmb in cost, like a receipt or screen shot of thepurchasing site. It is under the amount. Hey, Fearcotton says that FedEx (well, commie customs) did this to her once. She had prescription meds in the package. She wrote back a detailed list of everything in the box, but didn't give details on the medication. She just labeled it as over-the-counter, even though it wasn't. Not an illegal substance in China, so she figured what the hell. They then asked her to provide them with a website that had general pricing -- not for the meds, but for a freaking bag of pretzel M&Ms (delicious btw). That and about 50 RMB was all it took to jailbreak the package from customs.
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 09:44
|
|
|
How did the 50 RMB change hands? Unfortunately I'm far inland and can't go bribe the happo.
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 09:49
|
|
|
Why do customs issues ever only seem to happen with UPS/DHL/FedEx?
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 10:08
|
|
|
Monkey Fury posted:Why do customs issues ever only seem to happen with UPS/DHL/FedEx? Because those are white Godwatching companies and the white God is watching.
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 10:13
|
|
|
Yeah, the lesson I'm taking away from this is just to use USPS priority mail like we did all the times before. FedEx is saying the package is going to spend a week in customs, which makes it 5x as expensive as the Postal Service with no improvement in speed at all.
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 10:21
|
|
|
Arglebargle III posted:I was contacted by a Fedex rep in shenzhen, there's no conceivable scenario in which I could pay a bribe. Haha, that's cus you shipped Fedex like a loving FOB. Monkey Fury posted:Why do customs issues ever only seem to happen with UPS/DHL/FedEx? It's UPS/DHL/Fedex policy to just basically put a hold on anything and everything that might be worth more than $50, especially if it's sent to an address registered as a company. Why? Because then they get to charge "broker fees". USPS doesn't even begin to give a poo poo until it's like over $500 and obvious.
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 10:26
|
|
|
MeramJert posted:One of my coworkers has an uncle that's a customs official in Shenzhen that claims to make 4-5 million rmb per year from bribes. Is that uncle also the uncle that works in Nintendo? If so when is the next Pokemon coming out?
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 11:00
|
|
|
I don't know anyone that works at Nintendo though? Why are you so interested in a video game for children?
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 11:02
|
|
|
MeramJert posted:I don't know anyone that works at Nintendo though? Why are you so interested in a video game for children? He is a Pokemon.
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 11:26
|
|
|
Pro-PRC Laowai posted:Haha, that's cus you shipped Fedex like a loving FOB. YEP. Screw Fedex--but when mom sends you a package of delicious meds and candy, you do not say no. The 50rmb I paid upon delivery for a "customs fee".
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 13:27
|
|
|
Um yeah, anyone who ships ups/fedex/etc internationally has to hate the person they're sending to unless they pay the customs brokerage fee themselves. This doesn't just apply to China--they'll tack on tons of fees for US->Canada if they can get away with it (they can)
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 13:34
|
|
|
gwrtheyrn posted:Um yeah, anyone who ships ups/fedex/etc internationally has to hate the person they're sending to unless they pay the customs brokerage fee themselves. This doesn't just apply to China--they'll tack on tons of fees for US->Canada if they can get away with it (they can) They do that to literally everywhere, and have been sued for it (but sure as poo poo they keep doing it). edit: They tried to hit me for the same poo poo in Japan many moons ago. It was easier to deal with then. I simply took the package and closed the door, then ignored their silly little letter wanting payment. Pro-PRC Laowai fucked around with this message at 14:20 on Dec 23, 2013 |
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 14:17
|
|
|
How is the current visa situation? Anything changed recently? My wife is Chinese so I don't think I'd have any problems if/when I go back but I'm also interested in what's going on there. Any foreigner hate lately? Pro-PRC Laowai posted:They do that to literally everywhere, and have been sued for it (but sure as poo poo they keep doing it). Out of curiosity what's keeping them from calling the cops if you do this? I had to pay like 2.5k RMB on my computer and if I could have just closed the door that would have been swell.
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 17:17
|
|
|
This is usually done through an agent. Sometimes FedEx will act as an expediter sometimes you need to find a local freight expediter or agent, though typically this is for larger things and amounts of money.
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 20:22
|
|
|
Cuatal posted:How is the current visa situation? Anything changed recently? My wife is Chinese so I don't think I'd have any problems if/when I go back but I'm also interested in what's going on there. They'd prolly get really pissy in China. In Japan, it was more like "oh crap, this situation isn't covered in the training manual, this isn't supposed to happen! Welp, better report this to the boss so he can figure it out". Japan's silly like that sometimes, and exploiting it is the right thing to do.
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2013 21:10
|
|
blinkyzero posted:Hey, Fearcotton says that FedEx (well, commie customs) did this to her once. She had prescription meds in the package. She wrote back a detailed list of everything in the box, but didn't give details on the medication. She just labeled it as over-the-counter, even though it wasn't. Not an illegal substance in China, so she figured what the hell. They then asked her to provide them with a website that had general pricing -- not for the meds, but for a freaking bag of pretzel M&Ms (delicious btw). That and about 50 RMB was all it took to jailbreak the package from customs. I don't understand why all you people are shipping prescription meds from overseas when they are all available here for about 1/10th the price.
|
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2013 05:18
|
|
|
Be Depressive posted:I don't understand why all you people are shipping prescription meds from overseas when they are all available here for about 1/10th the price. Normally I would totally agree with this, but sometimes the exact dosage/type of med isn't available here. In my case I see a lung specialist/have super-specific med requirements, and because we have US insurance they were actually only about $10 usd. And then the Fedex charge. But sometimes people don't want to mess with mixing a Chinese and a US medical history.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2013 07:46
|
|
|
That's because in China, medical history is NOW. You too can enjoy having your humours balanced in 2014.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2013 07:53
|
|
|
FearCotton posted:Normally I would totally agree with this, but sometimes the exact dosage/type of med isn't available here. In my case I see a lung specialist/have super-specific med requirements, and because we have US insurance they were actually only about $10 usd. Can't you just drink some hot water?
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2013 08:27
|
|
|
FearCotton posted:But sometimes people don't want to mess with mixing a Chinese and a US medical history. I don't quite understand this because there is literally no such thing as a Chinese medical history. 90% of prescription drugs can be bought from a pharmacy without a prescription. For example I just take zoloft and it's kind of hard to find so I just go to the store and order 6 months' worth for about $30 and they have it the next day. A lot of times you might ask for something and the person will be lazy and tell you they don't have it, but if you google translate the generic name and show it to them they can most likely order it. The only classes of drugs they put restrictions on are benzos and opiates, as far as I can tell. And diphenhydramine, for some reason.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2013 09:07
|
|
|
bad day posted:I don't quite understand this because there is literally no such thing as a Chinese medical history. 90% of prescription drugs can be bought from a pharmacy without a prescription. For example I just take zoloft and it's kind of hard to find so I just go to the store and order 6 months' worth for about $30 and they have it the next day. A lot of times you might ask for something and the person will be lazy and tell you they don't have it, but if you google translate the generic name and show it to them they can most likely order it. The only classes of drugs they put restrictions on are benzos and opiates, as far as I can tell. And diphenhydramine, for some reason. It's not getting the meds that can be an issue, but if you have US insurance it can look pretty weird on your medical history to go "three months with a specialist we (the insurance company) had to pay for...then nothing! now six months later they want us to pay again?", which can screw you with your company in terms of care/copay coverage. Likewise a lot of US doctors are wary of Chinese meds and may not be comfortable with you taking them--even if it's an unnecessary fear--or you may not be able to get the correct dosage when it comes to things like steroid inhalers and whatnot. but of course taking a rest and drinking hot water, as well as wearing more clothes, will solve the need for medication.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2013 17:28
|
|
|
so, is Witopia, the best VPN since it's listed right at the top of the VPN list?
|
|
#
?
Dec 28, 2013 19:31
|
|
|
I'm planning a trip in late July-early August for me and my girlfriend, can anyone give me a rough estimate of how much a two week trip to the Beijing-Tianjin area would cost? Mostly just food and tourist-y stuff, she says she has a friend in Tianjin we may stay with for at least part of the trip.
|
|
#
?
Dec 28, 2013 22:26
|
|
|
computer parts posted:I'm planning a trip in late July-early August for me and my girlfriend, can anyone give me a rough estimate of how much a two week trip to the Beijing-Tianjin area would cost? Depends entirely on what you want to do. Goldboilermark knows Tianjin really well so I expect he can break that down for you. As for Beijing, the tourist stuff is either free or very cheap, like visiting Tiananmen Square, the military museum, Lama temple, summer gardens, etc., and taking the train out to the Great Wall is likewise inexpensive (and convenient). $100 USD will easily cover all of those things and a lot more. Most of the stuff worth seeing in Beijing is easily accessible via subway (2 kuai to go anywhere in the city -- about 33 cents), and taxis are more than reasonable on the off chance you need one (or don't like subways of non-Eat Fresh variety). Food will cost you as much or as little as you'd like it to. You can eat great stuff in Beijing for next to nothing. That said, it's worth dropping some cash to get some really good food. My wife and I always get roast duck when we're in Beijing -- highly recommended. A good roast duck place isn't cheap, but it's worth it. We usually go to Dadong over in Tuanjiehu (http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/listings/restaurants/beijingduck/has/beijing-da-dong-roast-duck/). Dinner for two there can run you $100 USD or more easily depending on what you spring for, but again, it's worth it. Getting to China is the most expensive part of a vacation here. Once you're in the country, moving around and doing stuff is cheap cheap cheap. Hotels aren't too bad (caberham can give you lots of good pointers here) and if you've got a free place to crash that's even better.
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 00:29
|
|
|
Facepalm Ranger posted:so, is Witopia, the best VPN since it's listed right at the top of the VPN list? I got it just before I came to China. This was right after China had smacked them down hard, but before that information became obvious in any search about it, so that all but like 4 of their servers didn't work at all, and those that were left were generally slow as poo poo (like barely faster than Freegate). During the time I had it, some of those got blocked. It had a reputation as the best 3 years ago, I don't know if it's improved in the time since, but 2 1/2 years ago it was pretty bad.
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 00:37
|
|
|
Facepalm Ranger posted:so, is Witopia, the best VPN since it's listed right at the top of the VPN list? I use Astrill and it's really easy and reliable. It has a neat little program that runs and automatically configures everything.
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 00:52
|
|
|
I use Astrill, too. I've been using it for like 3 years now and haven't had any real problems.
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 01:44
|
|
|
.
Spiderjelly fucked around with this message at 05:38 on Dec 29, 2013 |
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 03:41
|
|
|
Tom Smykowski posted:I use Astrill, too. I've been using it for like 3 years now and haven't had any real problems. How's the speed?
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 03:49
|
|
|
Spider Jelly, how long have you been there?
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 04:10
|
|
|
Sogol posted:Spider Jelly, how long have you been there? Three years.
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 04:48
|
|
|
Spiderjelly posted:have a recommendation? I used to take Ativan (lorazepam) which you could buy over the counter without prescription, but I'm not sure if you still can. Most drugs that are fun (benzos, opiates) are restricted here, but you can still get them from a doctor, although they don't like to give them out. The only benzos I have seen here are Ativan and low-dose Valium. A lot of times a pharmacy will insist they don't have something but can actually order it if you find an employee/manager willing to call the supplier. But you can get all sorts of stuff on Taobao, and it know for a fact that people in the us who buy powdered xanax and whatever over the internet are sourcing it from China. So such things are no doubt possible. I found taking 50mg of Zoloft daily had a profound impact on my anxiety problems.
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 04:53
|
|
|
.
Spiderjelly fucked around with this message at 11:20 on Dec 29, 2013 |
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 04:56
|
|
|
Perhaps. I knew a guy who had anxiety problems and went to a doctor and they gave him Valium. I've only really had experience with dentists who don't want to use painkillers and you have to argue with them.
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 05:04
|
|
|
Spiderjelly posted:Do you think doctors would be more inclined to give them to Westerners? Honestly just leave China, if you need medication to stay there it's not worth it.
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 05:18
|
|
|
Spiderjelly posted:I think China is finally making me lose my mind; I'm developing a severe anxiety problem and I'm combative every time I leave the house. Are doctors here allowed to prescribe benzodiazepines? If not, does anyone have a recommendation? Is it China or is it your job? Because if it's the latter, I think some people here may have some advice for you.
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 05:18
|
|
|
I felt combative all the time in China as well, and I never thought of needing medication for it.
|
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 05:32
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 15, 2024 09:29 |
|
|
.
Spiderjelly fucked around with this message at 06:28 on Dec 29, 2013 |
|
#
?
Dec 29, 2013 05:36
|
|