Into the Bargains

At the beginning of the year, China rolled out a consumer goods upgrading program for electronic products, benefiting both local and foreign brands. It has been a hit with Chinese shoppers, generating over 70 billion yuan in sales by March. It’s a trade-in policy, so you are meant to turn over old goods for new ones, but that seems to be very loosely enforced.　

The size of the discount varies greatly from product to product, so it’s worth looking around. For example, you might save around 500 yuan on an iPhone or 57 yuan on a Xiaomi hairdryer. What’s more, the program was recently expanded to include electric motorbikes (an item I have been eyeing for a while). It looks like these subsidies are here to stay, and I couldn’t be happier.　

When I first stumbled across the chance to snag major discounts during my next Taobao shopping spree, I’ll admit I was skeptical. My first thought was, “There’s no way they’ll let me get in on this without a Chinese ID card.” To my surprise, the policy extends to both foreigners and locals, creating a vibrant community of gadget lovers, all eager to show off our latest tech. This is opportune for a middle-aged manchild like myself who simply can’t resist buying new toys.　

I absolutely love gadgets. My enthusiasm, however, regularly sends my Chinese wife into a panic attack each time she sees me splurging on “more useless stuff.” Maybe it’s a touch embarrassing to be this giddy over a sale on tech products, but as someone who grew up watching classic James Bond films, I can’t resist the allure of an “exploding pen” or a “laser watch.” So, it’s no shocker that thanks to these new subsidies I’m thrilled with my sleek electric motorbike, fancy headphones, and a soon-to-be reality: a futuristic looking hairdryer.　

However, I was genuinely surprised to see this new spending policy be so popular among local consumers. In China, it’s quite common to see families cut back on spending to focus on essentials like housing, education and private transportation. In contrast, my friends back in foggy London are reveling in lavish holidays and extravagant dinners, while casually admitting they aren’t saving a penny. Truth be told, this is one of those time when I can sincerely say that Beijing has rubbed off on me for the better. While I still enjoy a good splurge, being out here has taught me restraint. There is a nice feeling in knowing that you are managing your finances like an adult. And most importantly, this frugal mindset makes my recent shopping spree that much more thrilling. Now, let’s jump back to the main topic: discounted gadgets. I’ve been practically bouncing off the walls at the thought of upgrading my household tech, but I do have a few reservations. An increase in technology purchases from one of the world’s largest markets isn’t exactly a win for the environment. Plus, does this mean we’re accidentally encouraging even more screen time? It feels like phones are already glued to our hands 24/7. I can’t help but wonder if, a few years down the line, we’ll look back on this chapter in the bigger picture of what we need to do to reduce our reliance on technology.　

But hey, that’s a story for another day. Who knows how long this policy will last? I might as well enjoy it while I can instead of stressing over potential downsides. The timing couldn’t be better, either! When I first arrived in China, the iPhone 4 was considered cutting-edge. Fast forward to today, and we’re surrounded by smartwatches and virtual reality glasses. Living in a country at the forefront of tech advancements makes events like this feel even more exciting.　

So fingers crossed for subsidies on domestic travel next, because all those trips await. Thinking about all this has made me way too excited to sleep, so I think I’ll take one last look at JD.com before I finally turn out the lights.