Why don't you buy from Tmall instead of Taobao? and why don't you read customers reviews before you buy anything? You have to be wise and don't rush to buy before you read enough about the product.

couldn't agree more. I don't like browsing and having people hanging over my shoulder. I've recently turned to online Chinese shopping and love it. It's so easy.

Agreed. I can't even try anymore. Bargaining is so annoying and frustrating to me mainly because it takes too long and I hate people smiling at me knowing that they will probably get a better deal because I'm a foreigner and I don't know what a local would pay for it. I don't like being taken advantage of and I really don't need someone reminding me of it constantly. I pretty much never buy clothes unless its in a department store of some kind and I buy food online where the everyone has to pay the same price for things. Changes my life dramatically.

Oh yes Rakifi..shopping and customer service here is the WORST!! Many others have mentioned similar words!! :( (Chinese and foreign expats.) Yes, it's 5 service people hovering over you or they are too pushy/annoying,rude,arrogant,lazy,indifferent,unfriendly or as you already alluded to disrespectful. Then, there are the idiot Chinese customers that hit you from behind with their shopping carts. You look at them and they just have the stupid "What did I do?" look on their face! :( Duuuuuuuuhhhh!!!! :( Then, there are the Chinese nobs that will pick something up from your shopping cart or an item that you put up that you want to buy at the check-out counter. :( I have no idea why they are SO STUPID and pick up the items that I plan to purchase!! :( BABO!!!!!!! * Go to a Western supermarket.,etc. It might be better. The same goes for ordering on-line for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Usually, the service at/with the Western businesses is far superior!! Yeah!!

The society has no trustworthiness, you can't trust products people etc. when you are used to honesty from the businesses you deal with, shopping in China just plain sucks

i luuuuuuuuuuuuvv shopping here

I could not agree more.  Go to Watson's and you get a constant buzzing hornet following you trying to throw things in your basket, when all you want is your favorite brand of deoderant and not what the store reccomends.  My gf's favorite makeup shop follows you around at all times, they refuse to let you have any space to look.  There is a nice looking fashion mall in GZ that has cool clothes for women, but many stores only let you look at the clothes on the rack, you can't take it physically off the rack to take a better look, to check for defects or to peek in a mirror to guess how it may look on you.  Most of these shops do not allow people to try on their clothes, and don't accept returns.  At one small market here there are 5 employees for every aisle, constantly watching in case you decide to steal a bar of soap or a pack of gum.  I'm serious ,,some small convenience stores hire 100 migrant girls and pay them under minimum wage just to watch for theft.  What a huge waste of money.

I've found shopping at the high-end markets much more satisfying, even if sometimes food costs a bit more.  They don't have annoying employees who hassle you, and have a much better selection of food.  The upper scale clothing stores are also nicer, with fitting rooms you can actually use, and helpful employees who keep the store clean, can find you the right size, and never watch you like a hawk.

Oh, and last, use Tmall and Amazon, skip the urge to save a little on Taobao. The headache isn't worth it.

You're all right. I can't stand the buzzing hornets trying to get me to buy X item. I don't want it. When I go shopping, I already know what I want to buy, and it sure as heck isn't Chinese toothpaste that's "vastly superior to western brands."

Yeah, bonita is right too. I'm in a place now where nobody pressures me into buying anything. They all help me whenever I want to find something, and they back the heck off. I absolutely I love Heilongjiang. No constant strife, nobody bothering me, no jackasses. Only jillasses here. I do haggle when possible, but I enjoy that sometimes.

Yes which is why I usually only shop at Walmart or online for food and household stuff and clothes in Hong Kong.

What I really hate is everyone always looking in my basket or cart with great curiosity to see what products the loawai consumes.

The worst is when rude people block the aisles with carts and are oblivious of people wanting to get by...so now I just ram their cart to the side and then they usually say...oh sorry sorry.

When I have to shop in small stores or stalls the gf is always with me to haggle.

I usually shop at stores where staff don't bother you, and to name a few: marks & spencers, carreffour, uniqlo, zara, GAP etc

I avoid the private sellers because they will first off try to rip you off and it's hard work trying to bargain.  I mean I work hard enough in the office, so when I buy stuff outside of work I want it to be an enjoyable experience and not be hawked by 5 commission based peasants!!!

It's a real nightmare. I actually stopped buying clothes here and just buy them when I get back home or stop in Hong Kong. I do shop on Taobao for a few things though. Like the other poster said above, you have to read the comments, because the ratings don't reflect their real experience. That's way too troublesome and time consuming. For food, I'd rather shop in places with fixed prices like supermarkets.

This is funny! Dude I've never had that problem.....just goes to show you that not every place is similar. If you want to stop going to those places that you have to bargain to get a deal then stop going to the freaking Silk markets.....problem solved! You need to work on your problem solving skills.....it will come just work on it!

I pretty much limit my shopping here to the necessary trips to the supermarket, which in my case is an RT-Mart.  I know exactly what I need, where it is, and the best route to take.  I don't check up long enough to even let someone have more than a passing glance into my shopping cart.  Of course, not much I can do if the wait at the check out line is 4 or 5 people deep, which is why I try to go during off-peak hours (usually when everyone else is eating supper).

And actually, I'd like to give a shout out to the local RT-Mart.  I needed to buy some baijiu last night as a gift.  The lady was super helpful, showed me the choices and even suggested the cheapest "version" of what I wanted.  Much less "ma fan" than I expected.