You may or may not be familiar with Japanese fast food chain Yoshinoya. They have many outlets in north America and China, selling mainly chicken and beef rice sets in a fast food format. I don’t go often, it’s not the pinnacle of fine dining but now and then, when I need a rest from 10 course lunches at one of the many Bund establishments, I slum it and head to Yoshinoya.
It’s lunch time so there’s a fairly long line. The woman in front of me has ordered food that comes to 27 and passes 30 rmb to the cashier. Now this is one of my pet peeves coming up right here. In England if it came to 9 pounds and 1 penny the cashier might ask if you happen to have a penny so she can give you back one pound change from 10. But here they take it to extremes for the simple reason that many establishments cannot seem to get the hang of preparing small change in advance. So the cashier pulls a funny face and asks the customer if she has 2 rmb coins so that she can give her a 5 rmb note back rather than use up precious coins. So the customer opens her back and rummages around for 5 minutes trying to scrape together a couple of 1 rmb coins while the queue gets longer behind me.
From experience I can guarantee you the cashier had 3 rmb but wanted to conserve the coins and therefore decided it was better to try and squeeze a few more coins from the customer.
Meanwhile, the customer in the next line had ordered his meal and took out a 100 rmb note to pay. The cashier looked at him and asked if he had anything smaller. The customer replied that he didn’t and even opened his wallet to show the cashier. Then to my surprise the cashier asked if he could pay by credit card instead! But it gets better. The customer indicated he did not possess a credit card and asked if any of the other cashiers had some change? To my horror and amazement, rather than ask his colleague if she had some change, the cashier said to the customer “I don’t know, you are welcome to try” and then waved him off. The shell shocked customer just walked over to the end of the next line and queued up again. If I was the customer I’d have taken off the silly hat the cashier was wearing and forced it down his throat.
I often feel I could make a fortune as a consultant to places like this, giving them advice on how to improve service and efficiency and ultimately drive profits. The only thing that’s stopping me is I don’t know if they’d be interested.
The irony is, there’s a huge ICBC bank branch right opposite this restaurant!
March 4th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
I know for a fact that you don’t carry anything less than 100rmb Woai (you’re always flashing your money clip when we’re out), how did you get on when it was your turn?
March 4th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
@Dingle – Which brings me to my other pet peeve : why don’t they have anything bigger than a one hundred note in China. It’s really inconvenient when I am buying Rolex watches and have to spend 10 minutes counting 500 notes.
When it was my turn my meal was 25 rmb I gave a hundred (I had change but I needed to break it up) and she gave me 75 rmb change without a fuss. I think these people have a sense for who can be bullied, but also I had my “do NOT fuck with me today” look. You know, Michael Douglas in Falling Down type of thing!
March 4th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Yoshinoya outside of China (specifically, in Japan) is awesome, and the beef bowl is a delicious and filling meal.
Yoshinoya in China is a sullen, warmed over mess and a blight upon the brand.
March 4th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
you refuse to join me on 10 kuai deliciousness but eat at yoshi instead!?!?!?!? GEEEZ woai.
March 4th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
@T – I don’t think I can improve on that description. I do wonder why the hell they don’t get some guy from head office in Japan to come over here and kick some butt. The staff are just sad pathetic excuses for human beings and there’s no evidence of leadership whatsoever.
@Jill – I have a delicate stomach I can’t be eating dirty street food. I was passing the famous Shou Ning Lu last weekend and was tempted to go for some scallops, then I saw a guy washing them in what looked like old bath water.
March 4th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
I noticed that men have weaker stomachs compare to women.
March 4th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
@Jen – I agree, especially when it comes to eating ice cream and chocolate.
March 4th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Hi Woai
U had a follower called Sara (she left a comment on 22.6.09). I’ve been on her blog before but cant seem to find the link to go back on, do u have her link u can send me? Her name is something like ‘sexy young chinese expat girl’. Thanks
March 4th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
I think it’s http://www.dinglespeaks.com
March 4th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Michael Douglas? You are getting more like Victor Meldrew every day!
Glad to see you are back in SH and enjoying all it has to offer
I totally agree on the 100rmb note, what the heck is that about – they are like spending Monopoly money?
March 5th, 2010 at 12:06 am
Rosa – How come you want to find her again? The link doesn’t work anymore. It was:
http://www.metrobloggen.se/youngsexylovelyexpatchinesegirl
I’ve written to her to ask for the new link if there is one.
@Kim C – Yeah, I guess one day they’ll release a bigger note.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:31 am
Lol @ Kim C! It’s funny ‘cos it’s true!
I guess that’s why you rarely slum it WoAi. I mean, who the hell would want to carry small change. Such an inconvenience.
And I cant believe the guy actually queued at the next line. Hope he didn’t get the same response from the cashier there too or it could have turned out to be a long and fruitless lunch break.
March 5th, 2010 at 4:57 am
Thanks ~ she studies medicine. I left her a question, she said she’ll get back to me but hasnt.
March 5th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
They don’t make anything higher than a 100 note due to the large amount of forging that goes on in this country.
March 5th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
I think the 角 coins are more tedious than pennies. At least pennies are made of real metal. The 一角 coins feel plastic.
It really is a hit or miss with the 100 kuai note. Some people are very accommodating, and others are downright stingy with their change. But look at the perspective from a Yoshinoya employee, or anybody else working at a fast food china. If I had to work an 8 hour shift delegating noodle bowls, I too would be an oscar the grouch about everything.
I’ve really calmed down with “giving the 服务员s a lesson in customer service” since I’ve been in China, but I am still liable to go off the handle every now and then.
Interesting post. I like the imagery. I often wear my “Don’t f** with me face” to grease the transaction wheels every now and then.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
@Rich – Yeah, I wouldn’t have stood for that outrage.
@Stimpy – Lame excuse. Why bother even having hundreds. Let’s just have singles.
@Anthony – Yes, that describes me perfectly too : still liable to go off the handle every now and then.
@Rosa – Do you want her email address?
March 6th, 2010 at 5:15 am
@ Anthony – being grouchy cos you had a hard day is one thing but Turnibg away a customer like that would constitute gross misconduct in my opinion.
March 6th, 2010 at 5:55 am
now i’ve thought about this more I can see the guys point, I’d have turned them away too.
When I open my own restaurant I’m only going to accept payment in coins, no notes or credit cards are allowed. Firstly it will seem like I’ve earn’t a lot more money and secondly whenever the restaurant burns down my horde of cash (all stuffed into a mattress upstairs) will be untouched.
March 6th, 2010 at 7:45 am
speaking of change, at least you don’t live in the US…where all prices are pre-tax and we still use pennies!!! that’s why i’ve basically stopped carrying cash and pay everything by credit card now. it’s such a pain in the ass standing at the counter trying to count out your pennies, nickles, dimes, and quarters. and you can’t even count it out ahead of time since you only know the pre-tax price and tax rates are different in different states. talk about retarded.
March 6th, 2010 at 8:36 am
you wouldn’t be welcome in my restaurant mandy… we can do without your sort!
March 6th, 2010 at 8:55 am
That’ll be great if its OK to give it out, thx
March 6th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
@Mandy – Yes indeed, China may have its problems but America is much worse, LOL!
@Dingle – Excellent idea, I think Charlie Chan (14 Regent Street, Cambridge, available for private functions and bar mitzvahs) already adopts that policy.
@Rosa – Sent to your email.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Is that the Charlie Chan’s that is next to Oddbins? Or a different one?
March 6th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Oh, and does that mean that the bar mitzvahs are open to the public?
March 6th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
HEY NOW! there’s a lot fooked with america, but capitalism is why willing-to-pay customers don’t generally get turned away. =)
pennies are annoying though . . .
March 6th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
@Stimpy – Yes that’s the one, thanks for clarifying. I’ll have to check on the bar mitzvah policy and get back to you.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
@Angie – Of course when I said America was crap I meant everywhere outside of Texas! Here here for capitalism! Yeeehaaa!
March 6th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
I can see DIngle in a Scrooge McDuck type vault, swimming in his Jiao (which one assumes is the correct plural).
March 7th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Just how long have you guys been in China? Because so far I’ve found this to be a problem with almost all businesses, not just Yoshinoya. I think the reason is quite simple — banks here will NOT sell change to businesses. (I’ve asked.) Businesses can’t just send someone to the bank to buy rolls of change, or bundles of small bills. So complain about the banks…
As for why they don’t have bills larger than 100s, I think Stimpy hit it on the head. Another reason might be to make things more difficult for the “underground” economy (e.g. criminal transactions, bribery, etc.). For the above-ground economy, with big purchases it’s easier to just use a debit card.
March 7th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
@Danfried – It’s a problem for many business BUT there are business that do things extremely well and these are very successful. I’m surprised to hear banks don’t give change but it wouldn’t surprise me and don’t get me started on the bloody banks!
Underground economy makes sense, although it’s only a minor setback that they have to carry large bags full of notes. I do not personally buy the counterfeit reason. If there was a 500 it would be the most closely checked note so forgeries would be very hard to pass off.
March 8th, 2010 at 5:28 am
hmm, i actually like the fact that 100 is the highest denomination in china…makes me feel rich, carrying around a stack of 100s in my wallet!
March 8th, 2010 at 5:46 am
@Mandy – After they release the 500 note there’s nothing to stop you continuing to carry a stack of one hundred notes!
March 8th, 2010 at 6:57 am
How many people carry 50′s in the UK though Woai? A lot of places won’t accept 50′s as well!
March 8th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Yes Dingle, thats right. Bus drivers, for example. Ironically it seems most of our Chinese clients only carry 50s.
March 8th, 2010 at 9:50 am
@Dingle – Come on, surely just like tens, it depends on the transaction, or are you saying if I bought a TV in cash they would only accept up to 20s? I wouldn’t but a stick of gum with a 50 but I wouldn’t with a 10 either. And I don’t know what it’s like in Stoke but in London, 50 pounds is barely enough for a stick of gum!
I’d be happy with a 200 RMB note to be honest. Quite a few of my trousers are ruined from the constant bulge caused by having a huge wad (of notes).
March 24th, 2010 at 4:22 am
i love china. i am pakistani. i love pakistan and same love china. may allah live long pakistan and china