First it seems everything I can get at this place I can get elsewhere. Second it seems everywhere else the pressure to buy something high priced is less intense. And that is saying something in China.

Today I walked in and entered the "Learning Chinese" section. Immediately I am approached by the young girls who make a commission on selling Chinese Learning software. I often watch them blatantly lie to their customers. "Oh yes, with this software you can learn quite good Chinese and you don't need a teacher." "I have a foreign friend who is fluent and only used this software to learn..."

Some girls even denigrate products other girls are promoting since they only make a commission on one product. "That dictionary software is no good because the voice is synthesized and not accurate" Turns out I examined the dictionary in question and it was real voices.

Usually a polite "not interested" is never sufficient to shake these ladies off of you. Today's girl would not leave me alone for any reason. So my choices seemed to be a) leave or b) physically move her away. China doesn't strike me as a litigation happy culture, so I opted for choice b) while carefully looking to be sure a security guard was not watching. Alas, no success, she was quite determined. So I had to leave.

At least at the big Chinese bookstore up the street on the fourth floor they have a nice learning Chinese book section for English speakers and on the sixth floor a video learning section. A polite "not interested" or two is sufficient to be left alone. Actually, the biggest hassle are customers at this place who identify foreigners as English language practice partners.

Such is life at large bookstores in Shanghai. Thank god my company will forward packages from Amazon.com.

I hate this too. The annoying behavior you describe is not limited to just bookstores either. When I enter a store of any kind I know that I have 5 - 15 seconds of browsing time before someone comes over to hassle me. I try to use this time as efficientlly as possible - scan the shelves to see if there is anything I might consider, then move on. I generally leave as soon as I am approached.

I have also wondered about this - can't they perceive that we need time to shop and look at the merchandise before we have any quesions? For me, it is a matter of distance. Don't stand shoulder to shoulder with me the moment I walk in, give me some space. And the fact that they say bad things about the other products seems classless and unprofessional. I am sure that, if given the time and space, I might want to buy some of their products, but the sales environment is so unpleasant that I leave before I even have the chance to study the product I came in to buy.

I hate all the stores in shanghai except supermarket, OP, maybe you can send a copy of this thread to the manager of that store through email, to let them see what they did to their potential costumer

Start blabbering in some sort of easter european language (or anything that sounds eastern european) and they'll give up.

I find Shanghai book City up the street has a better selection anyway.

wow. i don't get that at all. can you dress up like a woman? give that a go; bet those chicks won't bother you at all. then again, headphones might be easier.

or, just a polite but very firm look, and the balls to just walk away and not allow a couple of ladies to bully you around....

Just tell those girls at the Foreign Language Bookstore that you use an Apple Computer or Macintosh. They know that their software won't run on Apple computers. . . . Works every time I am there.

LOL - all the responses are great. Yes, I have moved to Book City. Much better selection of learning Chinese books.

But now I I am thinking of just going back to the Foreign Language Book Store just for sport.

Any doable gags are appreciated.