All about Beijing

All about Beijing

Posts 1-4 of 4
  • Colin Friedman
    Colin Friedman    Premium Member   Group moderator
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    Avoid a potential Olympic Scam
    The Olympics is rapidly approaching and Beijing is expecting a massive influx of visitors.

    Consequently there is a massive demand for accommodation.

    Hotel costs are competing for gold in the price high jump event, and Landlords are also hoping that the Olympics will bring them a large pot of gold.

    Many of the apartments on offer are genuine.

    However, often the description of the property is over generous and sometimes the pictures have visited the beauty parlour.

    Some of the offers are not quite so genuine.

    China Expert International http://www.china-expert.org is providing a special Olympic scam prevention service.

    We will act as your China Eyes and China Ears (to avoid your China tears).

    We will physically visit the properties of your choice, take pictures on your behalf and provide an objective written report for you.

    We are paid by you and have no "special relationship" or "understanding" with any of the vendors/landlords.
    • 06 Jun 2008, 07:27 am
  • Saskia Eschmann
    Saskia Eschmann    Premium Member
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    Re: Avoid a potential Olympic Scam
    Dear Colin

    I have just read your article on potential olympic scam.

    I will arrive in Beijing on the 15th of July and still do not have an apartment.
    Do you think it is possible to find something within one week (if I stay in a hotel for the first week)? Or should I better start looking for an apartment from Switzerland? If yes how much does the mentioned service (visiting a potential apartment, taking pictures etc.) cost? I had a look on the website but did not see prices...
    And do you know Century Real Estate and Beijing Real Estates respectively? I receive some offers of them which look nice but do not know whether the pics are "real".

    Thank you for answering to my questions.

    Regards,

    Saskia
    • 09 Jun 2008, 5:16 pm
  • User photo
    Jeff Oriecuia
    (not a XING member)
    Re^2: Avoid a potential Olympic Scam
    Well, not sure about the "massive demand" anymore. It seems that many of the apartments are going to be empty during the Olympics. A lot of people are leaving because of the visa restrictions, and a lot of people who were thinking of coming are getting turned off by the security paranoia.

    I had to get my bag checked by security today. At the subway station. What the hell?

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/2212866...

    I guess we'll just need to wait and see. ;-)

    Personally, I am out of here.
    • 30 Jun 2008, 4:25 pm
  • Colin Friedman
    Colin Friedman    Premium Member   Group moderator
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    Re^3: Avoid a potential Olympic Scam
    Jeff,

    thanks for the link.

    The Olympics is already starting to adversely affect my wife's business. Problem with trucks bringing stock to Beijing and delivering purchased goods to customers.

    The truck rule officially comes into force today 1 July, but for the last week or so the trucking companies jacked up the prices (also maybe because of the sudden increase in the cost of petrol).

    I also suspect that, despite the supposedly increased frequency in public transport, the odd day even day car ban will make the public transport unbearably crowded and taxis hard to find.

    Maybe a better idea to spend August 2008 in London and August 2012 in Beijing. :)

    Rental prices may well drop down as the landlords / hotels realise that they are pricing themselves out of the market, but it may well be too late for people to get visas and flights.
    • 01 Jul 2008, 02:20 am