 |
|
|
|
on Sunday, September 28, 2003 - 11:08 PM AST - 5983 Reads
|
By Sam Crispin Shanghai retail sales had growth of 8.8% year-on-year for the first half of 2003. The retail market registered not so much as a blip from the various external factors that might have been expected to slow things down. My household made a significant contribution to this growth -- not only did we move house with all the extra purchases that such a move entails, we also paid a visit to one of Shanghai’s slickest retail operations -- The Wedding Photo Studio. These vast premises on the prime strip of Huaihai Road had long been a warning that this could never be a cheap experience, but more than twelve months after the joyous event, my wife persuaded me that wedding photographs were in order. With a special ‘post SARS' offer of only 3000 RMB, how could I possibly refuse?
My estate agent's instinct that all was not what it seemed was proved right after a few minutes. All make up, except lip gloss, is included. Lip gloss costs 300 RMB extra, of course. And how can one possibly expect one's beloved to look her stunning best for the photos of a lifetime without lip gloss? Happily, a lunchbox was included in the price so that was 5 RMB was clawed back. Just munch through another 600 of those to break even...
Eight hours, five changes of dress for the missus, three for me, and 129 clicks later we were done. "Come back on Saturday to see the photos " said the beaming photographer, mouthing the menacing words "and don’t forget to bring your wallet", under his musty breath.
The ordeal of taking a whole day out of a packed schedule to pose and be flashed at was nothing compared to the painful process of reviewing the photographs. In England, ‘Cheesy Snaps' are a tasty snackette to accompany a few pints of beer before heading off for a curry after closing time. The album of cheesy snaps already collecting dust in our Shanghai living room is a far more sophisticated product.
The special 3000 deal RMB turns out to be for the pleasure of being dressed up in an oversized white tuxedo and photographed in a series of weird and wonderful poses against backgrounds that include courting doves flying out of a sky blue canvass. It does kindly include a few prints bound in an album, an enlargement or two and a delightfully awful key ring bearing our image. As soon as you want copies of the other 110 prints that aren’t included, the price soars to 250 RMB each to put them in the album or RMB60 for a simple print. This is where the knife really starts to twist. After all, as a loving and dedicated husband how can you possibly refuse a copy of every single image of the blemish-free smile of your beloved (being a whole 14 months after attaining matrimonial bliss, I was bound to have to make up for my tardiness.) To deny a single print would be as cruel as removing the chuckle from the laughing Buddha.
In the end we walked out a total of 9000 RMB lighter. We did quite well to leave 20% of the photos in the sweaty palm of the photographer with the musty breath. He managed a hurt look for each reject, but seemed quite content with his afternoon’s work. We resisted the sales pitch for the Louis Vuittonesque album and, of course, the essential matching case, which were "essential for keeping the dust from settling directly on the album itself."
All in all, I can only salute the operators. A slick operation, carefully targeted at customers ready to be fleeced for the chance to be prince and princess for a day. True love is forever captured on film and accompanied by such delicate poetry as ’our love is stronger than Paris by the sea in the Spring of our rose garden'.
So, when retail sales growth in England pales in significance to the figures churned out by Shanghai quarter after quarter, year after year, you know it is because there is just not enough value added in English Cheesy Snaps. My one regret: I left behind the one of me dressed as an evangelical preacher surrounded by doves, it was a peach.
Crispin Property Consultants offers the most experienced and knowledgeable team in residential sales and leasing, office sales and leasing. Contact samcrispin@sipin.net or weiwang@sipin.net | |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
