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The Tian Fu chain, some changes.

I have been to two or three Tian Fu (TenRen in the west) shops here (Dongguan and Guangzhou in Guangdong province), two of which I had visited before and had a decent experience, and it seems that there have been changes in the way they do business. I firstly noticed that nearly all of the cha jiu (tea stuff...includes trays, pots, gaiwans) if it is below the 30 or 40 dollar range has either been disposed of or just not restocked. Like in the West, I think they are trying to market to the higher income people in an attempt to make their shop appear to be the elitist alternative to teashops. Also, I was able to try one of their "Anxi Tieguanyin('s)" and was very disappointed to find that it was the cheap Guan Yin Wang that is peddled here in profundity and can be bought for like 5 bucks a kilo at the Fangcun market in Guangzhou. They have resorted to huai dan (bad egg) businessman tactics in their selling of tea; last time I remember their Anxi being very fresh and high quality with excellent leaves.

The second and most annoying aspect of these shops was that I literally had my every step stalked by an attendant in the shop reasserting the prices and so kindly showing me the most expensive items in the shop. Normally when you say, "kan yi sha" (just want to have a look) they leave you alone; not anymore. I thought it especially priceless when one young lad with an idiotic grin tried to sell me some horrid quality longjing (leaves were dark green, broken, and filled with holes from bugs) for much higher than the price on the box said...the box having the price in Chinese, so he was sure I couldn't read it. Being shown the most expensive items in the shop is not a new experience for a foreigner in China, but it was terribly overdone here.

I also especially hate it when an attendant tries to sell me some tea without even letting me see the leaves or try it. In the West you can put a little more faith in what it says on the box, but not here. They could be selling you a bag of dust mites and you would never know it until you get home and open the bag.

To my utter disappointment, I have decided to stay away from the TianFu chain in this area. By the way, they wanted me to pay 200 yuan to them after I tried their "Anxi Tieguanyin" without mentioning that beforehand...I politely replied 'wo ting bu dong' (I don't understand) and left without looking back.

Reply to
Mydnight
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Yes! that's the kind of reportage i'm talking about! there's been a little too much talk of Peachy Heaven and Republic of Tea lately for my taste (i'm jus' sayin'). a little spot-on live-from-the-trenches tea talk is just what the doc ordered. i'm all ears..............p*

Reply to
pilo_

:: earperk:: Peachy Heaven?? Did someone say Peachy Heaven??

LOL!!

Thanks Mydnight, it's great to have first-hand info like that.

Melinda

Reply to
Melinda

Hehe, doesnt sound much different than the shops here now. You would think that being that close to the Tea Maket they woul be more on tne level. Are they really fooling that many natives?

Mike

Reply to
Mike Petro

Sounds like a used car dealership. I always thought TenRen overpriced even for stocked shelf items. Even in my Chinatown the best stores are off the beaten tourist trails. All things being equal the in your face, follow you around tactics and paying for free samples sounds like Arabic markets of the Middle East. Just learn to walk away and don't take the taunts personally.

Jim

Mydnight wrote:

...deleted some good stuff...

Reply to
Space Cowboy

unfortunately, here in nyc area tenren also uses the same approach. this is true both in chinatown and flushing queens. i do though order small samplesof rose jasmine from tentea online- joanne

Reply to
Joanne Rosen

unfortunately, in some instances it seems tearen sells low quality tea from china and market it as being from taiwan.

Joanne Rosen wrote:

Reply to
law2255

Has anybody tried TenRen King's tea:

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It's all over my Chinatown but located behind the herbal counter where you ask for assistance and not on the tea aisles. The ginseng is from Wisconsin. I'm not big on ginseng taste but the description indicates it is hardly noticeable and used to accentuate the taste of the premium tea. I know American ginseng is more 'cool' than asian 'hot'.

Jim

Joanne Rosen wrote:

Reply to
Space Cowboy

Sorry 'bout your experience, but I enjoyed reading this.

Reply to
Bluesea

It's bad to say it, but I think they are. In China it's part of many people's psychology to pay more for appearances regardless as to what they are buying. For instance, a 5-star hotel may have a beautiful exterior and waiting area, but the rooms are crap. The same goes for tea...not every Chinese person knows about tea like everyone thinks. Using the right marketing, you could sell a truly inferior quality tea for a huge amount of money providing that your shop looks pretty.

At least we know better...or I think I do sometimes. heh.

Reply to
Mydnight

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