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Secrets of why we can get wholesale pricing of clothes at Zoo Market in Beijing.
What:

Zoo Market is a collection of wholesale clothing malls ¨C the most famous of which are Dong Ding, Jin Kai Li De, and especially Tian Le ¨C opposite the Beijing Zoo.

Why You’re Interested:

All the cool, non-brand clothing stores you frequent in Xidan, Wudaokou, and Xinjiekou probably get their merchandise from Zoo Market ¨C at half the prices they charge you. Naturally, you’ll say to yourself, ¡°Why am I paying Xidan prices? Why don’t I just go directly to Zoo Market and get the same clothes at wholesale prices?

Why You Shouldn’t Be Interested:

Well, sure you can buy that hip, pink T you saw at Xidan for half the price at Zoo Market. But to get that pricing, you’ll have to buy two dozen of them. Let’s say it again: Zoo Market is a collection of wholesale clothing malls ¨C which means selling and buying in bulk.

If you’re a normal shopper, meaning you’re interested in buying only one of a particular item, then there are plenty of reasons why Zoo Market is not for you:

1) Many vendors won’t even be interested in dealing with you. They could be rude.

2) If a vendor does deal with you, you won’t necessarily get a price that’s lower than what you’d find in Xidan.

3) Zoo Market is not in any way geared toward normal shoppers. Opening hours are from 5am to 3pm; good for the trade, but not for normal shoppers. The shopping environment is very basic. Volume buyers care about the merchandise and price; vendors don’t decorate. You can’t try on clothes.

For Serious Shoppers:

If you lack reason, and are of the unswayable mentality that, ¡°If Joe Xidan gets wholesale pricing, then I should, too,¡± then embrace me, my friend.

I am here to tell you that if you want to buy only one of a particular item at Zoo Market, and want wholesale pricing, it can be done. I will teach you my secrets.

Basically, what you have to do is pose as a volume buyer interested only in a sample, but likely to buy a many more.

To pull this off: First, make sure you bring a big, black, plastic garbage bag with you to the market. They are ubiquitous in the market, part of the uniform of all volume shoppers, and will make you look like you’re buying for your store in Xidan. You should even fill your bag with clothes from home to make yourself look more like a big fish.

Second, when you see an item that catches your eye, don’t immediately ask, ¡°How much?¡± Rather, ask questions such as, ¡°How is the market for this? Is this selling well?¡± Only after you ask these market-type questions do you ask the price. If you’ve succeeded in giving the impression you’re a volume buyer, the vendor will offer you a wholesale price.

At his offer, say that for now you only want one piece as a sample to show your boss, but that you’re sure your boss will love the piece so you’ll soon be back for many more. Since you can’t try on clothes at Zoo Market, make sure you know exactly what you want from first shopping for and trying on clothes in Xidan.

The problem with the above method is you can never go back to the same stall again. But, there are thousands of stalls in Zoo Market.

(Source CRI)

Tags: shopping, zoo clothes market

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