Guangzhou: Tourist Rip-Offs Galore & 12345 Does Jack Squat.

[Iris Marquardt]

Sigh, I'd like to vent a little frustration!

On March 19th, when I was in Guangzhou for some fun, I unfortunately experienced the "rip-off" practices of a notorious scummy shop!
The term "rip-off" refers to businesses intentionally inflating prices and exploiting tourists.
What made it worse was that I was completely unaware of this at first, and their store staff were rude and insulting as well.
Later, I checked the reviews on the internet about this shop—oh my! They were all negative. It seems fraudulent behavior is their forte.
After leaving the shop, I immediately contacted the consumer complaint hotline of Guangdong—12345.
This hotline serves a similar purpose as our local one; if you encounter any issues, you can call here for assistance.
You may ask why I chose it. In my hometown (in the vicinity of Shanghai, including provinces like Jiangsu and Zhejiang), the effectiveness of the hotline has been remarkable, responding swiftly and resolving issues within a week.
Guess what? The 12345 hotline in Guangzhou dragged my complaint along without any feedback!
Sigh, I read some articles discussing the development of Guangzhou earlier, but it seems their efficiency is questionable…

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️ Key Takeaway: A Heads-Up for Travelers Planning a Visit to Guangzhou (Especially Foreign Friends):

• Beware of rip-off shops!
  Specifically in tourist areas, be cautious while shopping or dining. Make sure to check your online reviews (e.g., apps like Dazhongping, TripAdvisor) beforehand, and inquire about pricing to avoid being ripped off.
  How to avoid: Walk away immediately if you find the prices absurdly high or nothing is clearly marked.
• Do not count on the complaint hotline for resolution!
  If you encounter problems and wish to file a complaint, do not put high hopes into the "12345" hotline. It’s possible that your report will be met with silence, just like mine.
  What to do instead: For significant financial loss or safety concerns, contacting the police immediately (110 in China) would be wiser. As for small claims, treat them as lessons learned and post exposure online.
• Keep evidence!
  Should you fall victim, remember to hold onto receipts, photos, or audio recordings (make sure local laws permit audio recordings as proof).
  Why? Evidence is always better than empty-mouthed allegations in arguing with merchants or reporting complaints to relevant authorities.

I hope everyone will have smooth travels visiting Guangzhou and avoid unpleasant experiences!

[Robyn Reilly]

I'm reporting this to Guangdong TV, Pearl River TV, and Guangzhou TV.

[Jose Beahan]

Mine's an economic complaint. I'm not sure what the result will be after this processing delay.

[Leland Erdman]

What was the final outcome? And was yours a complaint or a formal report?

[Steve Beatty]

Mine's also with the Wanbo Market Supervision Office. Today, they also tagged mine for 'delayed processing due to complex circumstances'.