June 1999
Dear BTM,
My husband and I recently returned home from a wonderful visit to China. Our hotel was terrific and the staff was helpful and very considerate. This trip was arranged by Club ABC and we have traveled with them many times and have always been happy with their arrangements. Our guide was very knowledgeable and helpful and in short she was just a delight to be around. All in all our trip was quite an experience and we saw sights that were thousands of years old and tasted foods that we otherwise would never have tried and learned so much about the history of China.
Now for my problem: We were taken to the Friendship Store to purchase gifts and souvenirs if we so desired. We were told that it was safe to buy in this store because it was supposedly government-sanctioned. I did purchase some jewelry under the guise that it was 18 karat gold and semi precious stones. I questioned this and was told repeatedly that it was as stated 18 kt. gold, etc.
I was told that one of the bracelets was worth about US$90. Another of the bracelets was also about US$90 and 18 kt. gold. When I returned home I wanted to check on my purchase and took them to a local jeweler where I live. He informed me that not only was it not gold, but it was worth approximately $5.
Now there is nothing wrong with costume jewelry provided you are told that is what you are buying and indeed what you are getting. Since I purchased these items in good faith and believed then to be of 18 kt. gold quality I was very upset and disappointed to say the least. However, I became livid and very angry when my credit card bill came in the mail and saw that I was not charged about US$90, but US$267 for a piece of junk.
The bill I signed in China was written in yuan and since it was supposedly "OK" to buy there I took them at their word and believed I was signing for US$90 (approximately). Also, the bracelet.If nothing else I hope that I have made you aware that this type of situation does exist and tourists are always the innocent victims.
I thank you in advance for any assistance you can give me with regard to this matter. It was a wonderful trip and I would hate to remember only this one flaw forever.
Mrs. Rinata Salzman
N. Clermont Ave.
Margate, New Jersey
Beijing This Month investigated, but from the receipts, was unable to identify the store Mrs Salzman visited. "Beijing Changping HLG Long Cheng Store" on the receipt is not a Friendship Store, and so we wrote back to Mrs. Salzman seeking further clarification.July 1999
Dear Sirs,
Thank you so very much for your generous response to my recent letter. You have truly restored my faith in the goodness of people by merely replying. Hopefully, you will be able to assist me in my quest for justice but even if you cannot do anything more than you already have by responding I will be a much happier person, not necessarily satisfied but happier because I was not just dismissed as someone approximately 6,000 miles away with no rights.
With regard to more specific information, I really am unable to give you any more details regarding exact locations of either store except to say that I think the "Friendship Store" had a lovely restaurant in back of the building where we had a wonderful lunch.I was ripped off because I got nothing in writing (my mistake) and have no proof of what I saw, but I do know that I received junk as told to me by a reputable jeweler in my area and I was quoted one price and charged another. Thank you again for any assistance you can render on my behalf.
Rinata Salzman
Beijing This Month welcomes any information from readers which could help us locate the store, jeweler or the Club ABC domestic Chinese tour operator.