Shopping in China: counterfeits, tailored suits and the customs risk
North Face jackets for 30 euros, quality fake watches, tailored suits — but watch out for customs fines. What shoppers learned in China.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Shopping in China: bargains, risks and the counterfeit business
A North Face jacket that costs 350 euros in Spain can be found in Beijing for 30. The temptation is obvious. But the fine print of shopping tourism in China includes defective products, customs fines and an art of haggling not everyone masters. The experiences of travellers and online shoppers reveal a market full of opportunities for those who know how to navigate it, but also full of traps for the unwary.
The bargain paradox
The myth that electronics are cheaper in China falls apart quickly: except in specialised areas like Haiyin in Guangzhou, prices for tourists are usually higher than in Europe. Where there is a real difference is in clothing and counterfeit brands. Tailored suits, with fabrics chosen by the customer, cost a fraction of the price in Spain. Silk duvets, down coats and footwear made there also offer substantial savings, although quality varies enormously.
Fake watches, for example, divide opinions: high-end ones (60-80 euros) can last for years; the 10-euro junk barely survives a month. The same goes for Montblanc pens and branded clothing: the difference between a good fake and a shoddy imitation lies in the feel of the fabric and the finish of the details.
The art of haggling and counterfeits
In centres like Beijing's Silk Market or the 580 on Nanjing Road in Shanghai, the first rule is not to show interest. Asking for the highest quality, haggling firmly and even pretending to walk away are common tactics. Chinese vendors manage with basic English, but the language of numbers is universal. Whoever doesn't negotiate overpays. And watch out for sizes: trying everything on is a must because Western sizes don't always match.
The online experience, through platforms like AliExpress or DealExtreme, has grown in parallel. But complaints about defective products, dangerous batteries and shipments that never arrive are constant. Several shoppers recount how they stopped buying on these sites after receiving items that broke within days. The quality of counterfeits online is even more unpredictable than in a physical store.
The customs risk: fines and seizures
Experienced travellers warn: European customs, especially in Paris, are on the lookout. Spaniards, along with Italians, are the most singled out for carrying counterfeits. If you get caught, the fine can be as high as the price of the original product, turning a saving into a huge expense. The advice is to remove tags, mix the clothes with worn items and avoid carrying pieces in suspicious packaging. Those who have been through the check tell it with bitterness: the fake Rolex that seemed like a bargain ended up costing more than a genuine one.
Still, the biggest attraction of shopping in China is not just the goods, but the labour-intensive services: massages, restaurants, hotels and quality tailored clothing remain a haven for the savvy shopper.
The question hanging in the air is whether the game is worth the candle: how much is it worth risking a fine or a product that doesn't work to save 300 euros on a jacket? Those who came back with suitcases full of fakes have their answer. So do those who prefer the original.
Related discussions in the forum
A North Face jacket that costs 350 euros in Spain can be found in Beijing for 30. The temptation is obvious. But the fine print of shopping tourism in China includes defective products, customs fines and an art of haggling not everyone masters. The experiences of travellers and online shoppers reveal a market full of opportunities for those who know how to navigate it, but also full of traps for the unwary.
The bargain paradox
The myth that electronics are cheaper in China falls apart quickly: except in specialised areas like Haiyin in Guangzhou, prices for tourists are usually higher than in Europe. Where there is a real difference is in clothing and counterfeit brands. Tailored suits, with fabrics chosen by the customer, cost a fraction of the price in Spain. Silk duvets, down coats and footwear made there also offer substantial savings, although quality varies enormously.
Fake watches, for example, divide opinions: high-end ones (60-80 euros) can last for years; the 10-euro junk barely survives a month. The same goes for Montblanc pens and branded clothing: the difference between a good fake and a shoddy imitation lies in the feel of the fabric and the finish of the details.
The art of haggling and counterfeits
In centres like Beijing's Silk Market or the 580 on Nanjing Road in Shanghai, the first rule is not to show interest. Asking for the highest quality, haggling firmly and even pretending to walk away are common tactics. Chinese vendors manage with basic English, but the language of numbers is universal. Whoever doesn't negotiate overpays. And watch out for sizes: trying everything on is a must because Western sizes don't always match.
The online experience, through platforms like AliExpress or DealExtreme, has grown in parallel. But complaints about defective products, dangerous batteries and shipments that never arrive are constant. Several shoppers recount how they stopped buying on these sites after receiving items that broke within days. The quality of counterfeits online is even more unpredictable than in a physical store.
The customs risk: fines and seizures
Experienced travellers warn: European customs, especially in Paris, are on the lookout. Spaniards, along with Italians, are the most singled out for carrying counterfeits. If you get caught, the fine can be as high as the price of the original product, turning a saving into a huge expense. The advice is to remove tags, mix the clothes with worn items and avoid carrying pieces in suspicious packaging. Those who have been through the check tell it with bitterness: the fake Rolex that seemed like a bargain ended up costing more than a genuine one.
Still, the biggest attraction of shopping in China is not just the goods, but the labour-intensive services: massages, restaurants, hotels and quality tailored clothing remain a haven for the savvy shopper.
The question hanging in the air is whether the game is worth the candle: how much is it worth risking a fine or a product that doesn't work to save 300 euros on a jacket? Those who came back with suitcases full of fakes have their answer. So do those who prefer the original.
Related discussions in the forum
- That plastic smell in Chinese products · 12 replies
- The decline of the Carrefour hypermarket in my area · 55 replies
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (54 replies).
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