tzkchris

China's Rising Retail Market

This makes a lot more sense up until it says the Chinese are becoming "international shoppers." The vast majority of Chinese--even the youth--have never set foot on a plane, let along "travel[ed] to Hong Kong and shopping centers further abroad in Milan or London." Most of them are still accustomed to crappy service and to bargaining down prices, and still unwilling to shell out a 20-30% premium to have their shoes licked by Best Buy's knowledgeable lackeys.

Meanwhile, Carrefour in China is crowded and uncomfortable. Both pop music and ear-piercingly shrill advertising jingles blast over the entire place at the same time. The staff are a bunch of old ladies who range from intrusive to mean. And the price--and products on offer--actually make sense for China. Carrefour has been successful because (unlike Best Buy) they got in when there was no local competition, and they learned to behave like a local retailer!