How did you even get the seller's email address? On Ebay you need to register too even contact the seller. I was thinking of firing off a bunch of emails too sellers to see if they even understood and would do a back door deal. Their lowball starting auction prices is usually the bait to establish further commercial transactions.
Jim
Alex Chaihorsky wrote:
registration,
Chinese I
something
The first rule while dealing with the outside world - NEVER ASSUME anything. The problem of course is that certain things we do assume because they seem so natural to us. Like when Soviet propaganda told us that majority of Americans were geographically illiterate - we lauged because every 12 years old back home knew which country's capital was Addis -Abbeb and it was incomprehensible to imagine what I discovered when I actually arrived at these blessed shores.
Same with Chinese. the sellers address is right there - just click on his/her name. There is no problem selling backdoor because these auctions are not excersizing as much control on their sellers as ebay. Probably because its impossible anyway. I have no registered yet because my computer does not like when I switch on the Chinese typing. But as soon as I update all that jazz - I will. I initiated the discussion in pinyin, they answer in Chinese I write part Chinese, part Yinglish, part Chinglish.
On the other hand I am tempted to go next time to Almaty via Beijing and just bring all the tea with me. Oh, another idea - make them ship to Almaty and pick it up there... Hmmm...
Sasha.
Cowboy -
I did register! Its not that hard, actually. You can do it. Give me a call and I walk you through.
Sasha.
Some of the volume dealers mention their websites and email addresses but it is still mostly Ebay like where you register first to contact the seller. I even came across one with a hotmail address which looked promising. Still the language looks like a road block in general. The currency problem solves itself. They've been doing that since recorded history. I logon and droll but can you keep us posted on any breakthrough dealers for us Occidentals?
Jim
Alex Chaihorsky wrote:
Probably
Indeed, it is the reason I always drink before I buy a tea. Whether it be really 10 to 15 to 85 year old pu'er, it's the taste that ultimately dictates what I will shell out for a tea. The only reason I say be careful with what you shell out is they can lie about nearly 10 different variables to increase the "value" of their tea so they can sell it higher. heh.
I still don't understand how you and Sasha solve this problem without purchasing. My local tea shoppe doesn't make tea the same way I do so tasting on premise is null and void. I walk away with samples but what does a couple of pots tell you? I think first impressions of tea are often misleading especially puerh. The price of tea is simply supply and demand. You might add hype to puerh especially if you're paying more than penny/gram. I've shelled out $20 for relative new production
300+g sheng beeng which is still cheaper than my local tea shoppe prices of $10/100g estate teas. That's my upper limit period regardless of taste.Jim
Mydnight wrote:
ultimately
Well, firstly I'm in China, the origin of Pu'er. Secondly, anyone here in China that wouldn't ask to try the tea before buying it is either 1. a fool or 2. too rich to care. A couple of pots tells me everything that I need to know, such as, if I'm being cheated or not.
I know that it's nearly impossible to find a shop out of China that will let you try before you buy in shop but you can at least get samples.
Also, in China you can tell a lot about a shop by the skill of the boss as he brews the tea. I am not willing to trust a boss who's gongfu cha skills are lacking. It shows he doesn't know how to appreciate the tea and it shows that he's just there trying to make a quick profit.
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