@King Thx for that info.

Daithi

LOL Yes, I went on a little shopping spree once I FINALLY got my taobao account working, and now that things are starting to come in, i'm finding that the customer service is really good, and delivery is fast. Despite all that crazy shit, I think I am still going to be able to count on Taobao after all.

And ps. yeah nanjing sucks the air is awful people there 特别没素质

Unfortunately it's part of daily life here and people don't even bother thinking about it as it's second nature to ignore.

For those who say we should avoid Taobao, I've been buying stuff there (mostly my wife) for almost 5 years and never had any problem. We buy almost everything there.

PS: you are able to buy on Taobao through your chinese wife/girlfriend... or you can have an account as a foreigner? Last time I checked can't use passport. And it's getting much more difficult to open a store compared to a few years ago...

Or are you talking only about buying? (different account that if you want to sell also?)

@encrypted
I use my USA passport. You have to pad the number with leading zeroes to make up the shortfall from Chinese ID cards (13-18 digits I think - look at your wife's ID card and pad to match).

Now ALL foreigners can taobao (qinglish verb?).

Bothers me the way the term 素质 has been used for 20 years or so now.

I dont get u Alien..can u elaborate please? U think this phrase is misused?

@laotou

Thanks, good to know. But last time I opened a store on Taobao (using my wife's mother ID), in order to be accepted, her mother had to take a picture of herself on white background holding her ID so when sent to Taobao they will check if it's really hers (or whatever).

It's quite complex. How do you do that with a passport? If they know you are foreigner, they still allow it?

yes, same process. a photo with your passport and signature

Cool thanks.