Battling Unreasonable BS on Your China Trip? Here's How to Fight Back!
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Ah, let me briefly recount the unfortunate incidents we encountered in Suzhou: We were originally having fun on a trip there, but then we encountered a hotpot restaurant owner who not only verbally abused us with harsh words, but also refused to refund our money! (For details, please refer to my previous post).
In case you, by a twist of fate, experience something similar, here are some time-efficient ways to defend your rights:
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First Tip: For a Quick Refund, Call the Police Directly!
- If you have a dispute with the owner at a restaurant or elsewhere and are seeking a refund, instead of waiting for online platforms or calling 12315 (China's consumer complaint hotline), directly contact local police in places like Suzhou! This is because these processes may take a significant amount of time, and you don't want to waste precious trip days on them.
- Cultural Tip: In China, sometimes the police will help mediate minor consumption disputes, especially those involving tourists, which may be handled faster than other channels.
- If you have a dispute with the owner at a restaurant or elsewhere and are seeking a refund, instead of waiting for online platforms or calling 12315 (China's consumer complaint hotline), directly contact local police in places like Suzhou! This is because these processes may take a significant amount of time, and you don't want to waste precious trip days on them.
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Second Tip: Call 12315 to Complain as a Consumer!
- Clearly explain the entire situation and your demands to the hotlines.
- Once you make a complaint, they must handle it, regardless of whether it ends up under the jurisdiction of the Market Regulatory Bureau or any other agency, they have to give you a satisfactory response.
- If there is no follow-up after a few days, call 12315 again!
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Third Tip: If the e-commerce Platforms Aren’t Helping, File a Complaint with Its HQ!
- If you've purchased group-buying items via apps like ByteDance Toutiao, Meituan/Dianping and are unsatisfied with the platform's handling, find out where its registered headquarters are located.
- Then, call the local 12315 hotline to reflect your issues.
- Additional Information: Filing a complaint to the supervising department in the head office’s city may hold more clout.
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Fourth Tip: Utilize Social Media to Broadcast Your Experience!
- Post about your encounter on various social media platforms: Xiaohongshu (a lifestyle sharing platform), douyin, or directly on the app used for the purchase.
- When posting on platforms like Xiaohongshu, include popular hashtags such as #12315 or relevant regulatory agencies for wider reach and potential official notice.
- Don't forget to post negative reviews directly on the apps or platforms!
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Listen Up! Most Important Point of All!
- Keep All Evidence When Traveling Abroad!
- Video of any arguments with the store owner? Capture it!
- Store license and hygiene permit? Take photos!
- Any conversations, calls with relevant departments (such as 12315, platform customer service)? Record them!
- On apps or platforms where you made purchases or communicated with customer service, save your ratings and chat records as screenshots!
- Why should you do this? This evidence will serve well when defending your rights, and without it, even deities might struggle to help.
- Keep All Evidence When Traveling Abroad!
I know that many people prioritize not "making a fuss" when traveling abroad, but if we have the ability to voice our concerns, why stay silent? How can we let low-quality stores bully us at their whim? By constantly voicing concerns, not only for ourselves, but for all those wishing to explore places happily, ensuring true joy upon return is the essence of travel, isn’t it?
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