With a high population and an increase in incomes, the services industry is a fast growing one in China. Living and working in China can be hectic for foreigners. Getting to grips with navigating the city, cultural practices, new workplace dynamics and social mores can be quite dizzying when combined with trying to juggle relationships, family and work. Luckily there are ways to make your life considerably easier in terms of both the domestic and business spheres.

When things go wrong in China, people often bring out the old adage ‘ren tai duo le’, which literally means ‘too many people’. This at times can be a blessing in disguise, as amongst these ‘too many people’ there are those that are willing and able to help you in the daily struggle that is life. At the cost of a small (or possibly greater) fee, of course.

At home
Finding ayis is a matter discussed elsewhere on this site; however there are a great many other domestic services which can come into play in organizing the smooth running of a good home.

Food
One of the services which is a surprise – and a godsend of almost biblical proportions to the couch potato variety of the common expat – is the fact that fast food restaurants McDonalds and KFC offer 24 hour delivery. In fact it is true that almost any restaurant will offer this service. Delivery boys have an uncanny knack of finding your residence and food normally comes hot.

If you are tired of eating from restaurants, but equally tired of trudging to the supermarket and having to browse those shelves all by yourself, then perhaps supermarket home delivery is for you. Beijing Home Delivery provides exactly that service.

On a smaller scale, it is likely that your local corner store, should you ask nicely, will deliver anything they stock right to your door. Many convenience stores have a ming pian (name card) with a cell or landline number which can be used for making orders.

Logistics
When you’re moving apartments, you may need the services of a removal company. Moving locations within a single city, companies will charge around 250RMB for a lorry load of personal effects. They’ll supply a team of several people to do the actual moving and driving. Read this article for moving between cities, and this one for sending things back home.

Should your moving needs be slightly smaller in scale, say some important documents, then you might be in the need of a courier. Couriers can provide their services for as little as 20 RMB and are great for delivering 

Home Maintenance
There are certain things around the house that are probably too heavy duty to ask poor frail old ayi to do, or perhaps too technical for her if she doesn’t have a degree in mechanical engineering. When you come across home problems there is always someone to call. If you are living in apartments with property management, it is likely that within working hours there is someone that is on call to help with plumbing, carpentry and electrical matters. Prices of wuye staff services are normally set and will be cheaper than that of independent companies, although it is worth noting that wuye staff are often jacks of all trades, and so quality of workmanship may not be quite so high. Oftentimes your landlord should foot the bill for all expenses other than parts – and those should be discussed with the landlord before they’re purchased and installed.

If you are living in accommodation without property management, the number 114 is a general directory inquiry number that can be used for connecting with craftsmen/companies in your area. China Mobile also provide a similar service with their 12580 hotline.

Other services commonly used by Chinese people are a plenty. One such service is that of stove cleaners. Chinese people like to use plenty of oil in their cooking and this often leaves stoves and the extractor fans above them covered in a congealed layer of grease. There are guys that go from door to door plying their trade, making sure that you don’t have to get tennis elbow or fork out for industrial chemicals to cut through the fat. The best way to find such services is by word of mouth. Similarly, such people will also replace the mosquito netting over windows, which become clogged with dust and can lead to some unpleasant dusty surprises on windy days. Many people advise that netting should be changed annually in dusty cities such as Beijing.

Business
This wide variety of help and services is not just limited to the domestic sphere; help is also at hand to for those doing business.

Drivers are a service that many would never dream of back home, but with the complexities of driving in modern China and the resultant difficulties faced when an accident occurs; it is a service that people sometimes change their minds about. An experienced fulltime driver, available on call out will expect a salary of a minimum of 2500RMB per month, although less experienced drivers will work for less to begin with. More on drivers here.

Interpreters are a vital part of business when conducting meetings in a land where you do not speak the local lingo well, if at all. A fulltime interpreter will set you back a minimum of 5,000RMB a month. Bearing in mind that a good interpreter can dramatically change the dynamics of a negotiation, this service is probably not one that is worth cheaping out on.   
 

Related Links
Bargaining in China: What's Fair Game?
How To: Move Across China
Getting the Right Price in China: Ayis, Drivers, Visas and Housing

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