Hacker News Reader

Comment by tintor | Hacker News Reader

"what can an American sell to Chinese people?"

Software, Movies, TV Series, Songs, Video Games, Technology Licenses

I think the author was thinking of things we can sell in China that would take up cargo space on a plane so that freight planes carrying cargo from China didn't make the trip back empty - they'd have American goods to sell in China.

Yes, the US can sell a lot of things, but are these physical items created here to take up cargo space? Sure, Microsoft makes a lot of video games and software, but we're probably not literally shipping Xboxes or video games from the US to China. Yes, the US might be selling that, but it probably isn't using cargo space for return flights.

> using cargo space for return flights

soybeans, corn, oil. but mostly by ships

You seem to have quoted, but then forgotten about, the word "sell". It needs to be things China both wants, and is willing to pay for. Everything in your list is either "already available for free", "banned by the party", or "Why? US patent law does not apply in China".

This is why we in the business world do something called "Marketing" and "Branding"

An Oppo or LibrePhone might be a peer substitute to an iPhone a neckbeard on HN, but an Apple iPhone is still a luxury good.

Sell goods with a strong brand cache and they will continue to sell like hotcakes.

You will be skewered for using a knockoff.

Conversely, this is why Temu and Shien do well - why should I spend $20 at Uniqlo or $40 at GAP on fast fashion when I can spend $10 for the exact same thing on those Apps. It comes from the same factories in China and Vietnam anyhow

Apparently in certain parts of Beijing it's not uncommon for someone to be completely ignored at a business unless they have a nice handbag.

Yep!

Tbf this happens anywhere in the developing world - Asia, Eastern Europe, South+Central America, or Africa.

Chinese business men carry fancy handbags?

I heard man purses are a thing there. But I think OP meant a salesperson will not solicit you in a store if you don't have a nice accessory.

Which sounds like an awesome side effect.

>Conversely, this is why Temu and Shien do well - why should I spend $20 at Uniqlo or $40 at GAP on fast fashion when I can spend $10 for the exact same thing on those Apps.

This isn't quite true: Uniqlo only sells their own designs. You may think Uniqlo's and Temu/Shein's stuff is basically the same cheap crap, but the designs really are different. AFAICT, Shein's business is copying other higher-end brand stuff and making it in various different factories, whereas Uniqlo (along with its sister brand, GU) designs its own stuff that's really popular in the Japanese market.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com