In China, it is common for development companies to build ambitious new housing complexes at the edges of the suburbs. However, this has led to a number of ghost towns: rows of luxury apartments all vacant. These ghost towns are especially visible in small cities in inland China. On April 28, the New York Times reported on an interesting solution thought up by Chinese developers- renting foreigners to help sell property.
The New York Times published a short documentary on companies who hire foreigners to help with sales activities. Companies can choose from foreigners of different nationalities- those with white faces being the most expensive. The companies that most often hire foreigners for sales jobs are real estate companies. Marketers believe that foreign faces promote the idea of “internationalization,” so that customers will believe that remote areas are actually in fact, up and coming. In China, “internationalization,” is often used as a sales buzzword.
The real estate companies often recruit normal expats in China to pretend to be celebrities to entice buyers. The hired foreigners are often presented as famous people, usually musicians or models. However, companies often pose hired foreigners are businessmen, athletes, diplomats or just ordinary people.
Source: inews.qq.com
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Keywords: China developers New York Times China China renting foreigners
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Strange how this Chinese website is sort of a cheap knock-off of a real American newspaper, too. I don't think any of the people in East-Bumblefuck province really believe the real UN Ambassador is endorsing their apartments. Neither does anyone believe this is a real website.
May 07, 2015 11:29 Report Abuse
So jumping around in a kindergarten getting punched in the nuts by brats is no longer the most humiliating gig for foreigners in China.
May 06, 2015 22:23 Report Abuse
i teach for now ... my kids used to be brats but luckly i learned how to manage a group of kids and now they act little a mini army(hard to believe but true) .. and have fun at the same time when playing games etc ... i still have a few more months till its over , but im gonna remember as an interesting experience
May 07, 2015 11:54 Report Abuse
"promote the idea of “internationalization,” so that customers will believe that remote areas are actually in fact, up and coming" - a nice little scam with Chinese characteristics that. Why don't they just offer a few free (or cheap) apartments for foreigners instead?
May 06, 2015 21:05 Report Abuse
Haha, you saw through their smokescreen. Scams and fakes. Free aparments, what's the big deal giving you a few dozens if your participation let them con 500 buyers? Depends on the supply quantity of willing accomplices. $$$
May 06, 2015 23:35 Report Abuse
I was asked by an recruiting agent to go to Nanjing to do a translation job... getting there I actually was asked to read a speach to a Chinese audience pretending Im an American doctor explaining about some product (in English, translated to Chinese by a translator next to me after every block of sentences I said) ...Honorable guests and.... after years of my reseach... this product ...to help Chinese... ...thank you ... I was already there and I did it .. but I felt bad and dont wanna do it again ... so yeah it happens a lot I hear
May 07, 2015 11:50 Report Abuse
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