Scamming the scammers, or how to have fun…
Oct 6th, 2007 by scott
Yesterday, I went to the Forbidden City (故宫, or Gùgōng). I’ve uploaded some pictures here.
You may be wondering about the title of the post. Well, I had read all about the various hustlers that operate around Tiananmen Square, including ones that pose as students that want to learn English, then try to get you to go into a “tea ceremony”, only to leave you with a bill that is astronomical. This is the one I played along with until they wanted me to go into the teahouse. Two girls said they were students, etc. and asked where I was going. I said across the street to Tiananmen Square. They wanted me to go a different way, but since I had read a lot about these types of scams, I realized there was no danger in going that direction. It was actually along the moat and then another street which was pretty neat. Along the way, I taught them a little English and they taught me a little Chinese. In particular, whenever someone would come up asking if I want to buy postcards, etc., I would say “Bù xiǎng, xièxie nǐ” (不想, 谢谢你), meaning (I thought) “I don’t want it, thanks”. Well, the two girls told me that I should say “Bù yào, xièxie nǐ” (不要, 谢谢你) instead (which means, more understandably, “I don’t want it, thanks”), since xiǎng means “think”, as well, it may sound more like “I don’t think so” instead of “I don’t want it”, giving them the feeling that they can change the way you think. In any case, it worked! Most hawkers were rapidly dispatched with this alternative phrase. Now comes the fun part. When we walked past the tea house that they thought they were leading me to, I simply said I had a time schedule to keep and had to go to Tiananmen Square. When they said something about how I would like the tea ceremony, I simply told them….”Bù yào, xièxie ni, zàijiàn!” (”I don’t want, bye!”) They had unintentionally given me the very phrase to use against their scam! So, I learned a useful phrase and enjoyed a walk in a cool area I wouldn’t have gone to on my own, without any problem. They were very nice and simply said, “OK, zài jiàn”.
When I got back to the hostel, I related my experience to one of the other guests and they said that they had fallen for the same scam that day and had been taken for Y1000 ( about $133). They were philosophical about it, that they enjoyed the different teas for 3 hours and learned some things, but they still had that unpleasant feeling of being fleeced.
I’m glad I read so much before I came. It’s much easier to learn from other’s problems….now, if I could just not lose my cell phone…
The pictures are great! That is pretty cool the way you “scammed the scammers”. Did you finally get the cell phone worked out? In some of the pictures you are wearing something around your neck, what is it?
PRETTY SAVY. I’M OFF TO CALGARY AND PROBABLY WON’T BE IN TOUCH UNTIL I RETURN BUT WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO CATCHING UP WHEN I DO.
Dennis, thanks, I’m glad you like them. My next post explains the cell phone deal. That think I am wearing around my neck is an electronic collar….no, really, it is what they call an “automatic tour”, which feeds you an audio blurb about what you’re looking at (or at least, that’s the theory). I’m sure it operates on some sort of signal from in the buildings, although it may use GPS. I didn’t find it very helpful, so I’ll just enjoy looking around from here on out.
If you really have a burning desire to know the back story of a particular thing, you can just hang out and listen to the next flock of sheep///er…tourists being led by their shepard with a flag and a whistle. I, personally, enjoy not being near the tour groups…
See you…
Ann, thanks for your comment. Enjoy your trip to Canada!
did you go to TianAnMen to see the Program of Chinese Flag Raising?
I am sory to hear your cell phone problem. Do you need it to contact someone in China. You can let your wife or anyone you need to contact with call you using phone card from USA, it is only 2-3 cents per minute. Or if you need I call you, let me know your phone #
I saw you picture in TianAnMen. It is good.
Yufeng, Thanks for your concern. My cell phone is working now! I used it so much today that the battery ran out. I am not used to using a cell phone, but it sure is handy when you’re on a trip like this.
I’m really happy to be here. Everyone I meet is so nice and we are so interested in each other’s culture. I’ll be updating this blog regularly, so please use it to contact me, like you did. Thanks!
Hi Scott!
Looks like your having a great time. The pictures are great and your adventures into China are good to read. Hope the weather and people remain nice and interesting. Look forward to reading more about your trip. I think this is awesome to see as your trip unfolds.
Continue your journey well.
Take care,
Bob