Beware of China Mobile "Agents"

[Brian US]

Hi, my name is Brian and I am a gullible foreigner.

I was told that a family friend is coming to China this week and I should get her a cell phone (she is a pilot and in Beijing often). Having China Mobile myself I decide to go to the nearest China Mobile store to get a sim card. I figured that the company is one of the largest in China I wouldn't have a problem just walking in to pick one up.

I asked for a sim card and a plan that would allow international calls, so the woman quoted me 380 kuai. I asked why it was so expensive and she said because it was for international calls. I thought it was a legitimate China Mobile store, so I didn't question her further and put up the money. I was immediately told by my Chinese friend afterward that I should not have paid over 100 kuai.

Where I went wrong:

Did not know the product

I was rushed (friend arrives in two days)

Did not ask a friend for prices

Did not ask a Chinese friend

Actually thought a store was legit (didn't shop around)

I'm a foreigner

My ego also got in the way after living in China for five months and being the cheapest out of my friends. After spending 386* kuai I have already heard the constant question known to all gullible foreigners, "why did you pay that?"

*including 6 kuai for the bottle of 白酒 to burn away the tears.

[skylee]

You might also want to learn this term - 學藝不精.

These things happen. You've paid for a good lesson. You might also want to consider stopping to tell people about it so that people would not ask you again why you paid that.

BTW I don't understand why a person who is a pilot and in Beijing often had to have someone to arrange for her sim card.

[Brian US]

BTW I don't understand why a person who is a pilot and in Beijing often had to have someone to arrange for her sim card.

She basically takes a flight from the US to Beijing every other month or so. Her stay consists of one night in a Western Hotel without a lick of Chinese. Yet, this week she might come with family for a few days. I greatly appreciate the flight discounts, so a cell phone is the least I could do. I suppose the airlines would provide a better service, but it is more of a gift.

May you elaborate on "學藝不精." Maybe it's traditional characters, but one translation I found is that "the scholarship isn't fine."

[roddy]

China Mobile pays for a lot of shop signs, but it doesn't necessarily run the shop - if you have a look you'll often see the name of the actual company, usually a mobile phone merchant. If you want to be sure you're actually dealing direct you need to head to one of the big 营业厅s - although it's generally not necessary unless you're doing something complex.

I wouldn't beat yourself up about the gullible foreigner aspect either - chances are they do the same thing to anyone who walks in. You're just gullible

It's actually (I think) easier to make international calls with the lower-end PAYG plans, as with those there's no chance of a big unpaid bill for China Mobile to swallow. My 神州行 card just lets me dial overseas directly, although it'll burn through 100Y of credit in about 20 minutes calling the UK, and admittedly it's eight years old so cards sold today may well work differently. With contracts I think you need to activate the service and put down a deposit.

Did you at least get a number with lots of 8's?

[Erbse]

I asked for a sim card and a plan that would allow international calls, so the woman quoted me 380 kuai. I asked why it was so expensive and she said because it was for international calls. I thought it was a legitimate China Mobile store, so I didn't question her further and put up the money. I was immediately told by my Chinese friend afterward that I should not have paid over 100 kuai.

Are you sure 100 kuai is enough? My 80 kuai street vendor card does not allow me to make international calls. Doesn't even work in HK.

[Brian US]

Did you at least get a number with lots of 8's?

That's the first question my Chinese friend asked me as he said a number with a few 8's would be worth around 150 kuai. My number only ends with one 8. I thought it was strange why the lady in the store showed me several numbers to choose from. I told her it didn't matter as I forgot about the lucky 8 and I truly didn't care.