5 Overrated Foreign Brands that Chinese People Love (Part I)

5 Overrated Foreign Brands that Chinese People Love (Part I)
Apr 12, 2016 By eChinacities.com

Editor's Note: Whether it's because they are looking to Westernize or to avoid cheap Made in China products, Chinese shoppers are paying a lot for foreign products. Sometimes too much. Of course, foreign products are more expensive here because of taxes, duties and distribution fees, however many are paying luxury prices for clothing and other products that are not luxury quality. The translated article lists brands that people are paying too much for.

Every time a Chinese person comes back from abroad they bring back a haul of designer bags, clothes, jewelry, and daily necessities. However, a number of these brands that Chinese tourists go crazy over are extremely overrated.

Just because a brand is foreign, doesn’t mean the product is worth it! A lot of people are wary of anything “Made in China,” but it’s a common myth that all foreign products are superior.

1) Victoria’s Secret
The Victoria’s Secret fashion show is a huge deal: who doesn’t love sexy tall models. A shopping bag from Victoria’s Secret has become a fashion statement, and Victoria’s Secret underwear are the best-selling panties in the world. However, when you actually go to Victoria’s Secret stores the sizes and styles are a bit limited and many find their underwear to be uncomfortable.

It is important to consider fabric, design, and comfort when buying lingerie. A lot of people are disappointed with the quality of the underwear at Victoria’s Secret. Lots of women have even reported that the lingerie gives them rashes or makes their skin itchy.

Victoria’s Secret is an extremely successful brand with good design, but it is not a high-end brand. Foreign high-end underwear brands include Fleur of England, Agent Provocateur, Lise Charmel, and Carine Gilson. Your Victoria’s Secret is not impressing anyone.

2) CK Underwear
CK underwear is very popular amongst Chinese men and is much cheaper abroad than in China. CK is part of the Calvin Klein brand. However, Calvin Klein is high fashion, while CK is not. Major celebrities wear Calvin Klein gowns on the red carpet. The price gap between Calvin Klein and CK is huge, and CK itself is not a luxury brand. Armani underwear are more high-end than CK.

3) Polo Ralph Lauren
There are a lot of Polo Ralph Lauren fans in China. Many Chinese wear the brand’s polo shirts with its famous logo. They pop the collar, throw on a pair of sunglasses, and white pants. Wait, now they look exactly like a tuhao boss on a golf course. Polo Ralph Lauren is actually a mid-range line from the brand. For actual luxury clothing from the same designer check out Ralph Lauren Purple Label or Ralph Lauren Collection.

4) Brita Water Filters
A lot of Chinese believe that filtered water makes food taste better. If you cook your rice or boil dumplings in filtered water than they will taste better than usual. Water filters are popular in countries like Germany and the United States where you can actually drink the tap water once it has been filtered.

Brita claims on its Chinese website that you can drink tap water filtered through the pitcher. However, most people in China would only still use the water for cooking. Therefore, the filter has more of a psychological effect than an actual one. Do you really think a Brita could make tap water drinkable here?

5) Japanese Rice Cookers
Chinese tourists love buying expensive Japanese rice cookers while traveling in Japan. Many believe that the high-end appliances make the rice taste better. They claim that Japanese rice is delicious because of the rice-cookers used to make it.

However, many Chinese people are disappointed when the rice tastes the same when made with their new 3,000 Yuan Japanese rice cooker. I bet if you had someone taste rice made with a domestic Chinese rice cooker and a high-end Japanese one, it would taste almost exactly the same.

Source: QQ News

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Keywords: Victorias Secret overpay foreign brands China

6 Comments

All comments are subject to moderation by eChinacities.com staff. Because we wish to encourage healthy and productive dialogue we ask that all comments remain polite, free of profanity or name calling, and relevant to the original post and subsequent discussion. Comments will not be deleted because of the viewpoints they express, only if the mode of expression itself is inappropriate.

kuntmans

Hard to believe that apple iphone is not included in the list.

Apr 14, 2016 15:58 Report Abuse

Karajorma

The article is about overpriced products the Chinese buy. If it was about overpriced products that are popular globally, then it would definitely be on the list.

Apr 15, 2016 17:07 Report Abuse

kuntmans

Chinese luxury clothing brands will be competing with western ones on the catwalks and high streets within 10 years.

Apr 12, 2016 16:39 Report Abuse

dom87

the increase of tax won't do shit for domestic consumption. After all Chinese buy this high priced shit mainly for face. They still will continue to buy it, even if they will swear that it costs more now.

Apr 12, 2016 11:20 Report Abuse

Englteachted

What a BS article, Victoria Secret and CK are luxury brands and worth it to Chinese because of the difference in quality. When it comes to clothes that go on your most sensitive areas you don't want it to be made with harmful chemicals. And water filters are a necessity. Boiling only kills bio germs like bacteria and in some cases what's left behind can still harm you. Filtering, proper filtering, takes out toxic metals that harm the brain. Brita and PUR are the only names I trust.

Apr 12, 2016 06:38 Report Abuse

royceH

I've been drinking boiled water in China for six years and my brain isn't what it used to be.

Apr 13, 2016 17:23 Report Abuse