Free lunch while our car was serviced

This was a new experience! Our first car service was due after one month of driving. When we had the car service in US, we might call ahead to get a reserved car for us to drive around before we got our car back. I assumed that we are not going to have the same level of service here in China. However, guess what, what they offered is even better -- they invited me for a free lunch!

I wasn't really hungry and generally am very picky where I eat out. But out of curiosity, I took the offer. The agent who early helped us with the paper work while we purchased the car led me to their dinning hall. Ha, it is even better, I got to eat with the staff and hear about all about their secrets. :-)
The dinning room is not big. People lined up in front of a window to get their free meal. The menu that day was sauteed chicken wings and legs, some vegetables and rice. The agent helped me to get the utensils and ordered the meal for me. Than I sat down with another 3 girls. One of them was a sales representative and another two were accountants.

I would say the car sale reps in China are much "greener" than those in the States. They don't have much room to negotiate. The price is pretty much decided at the top. They just have to be nice and the orders will just roll in. :-) Also I am not sure if their bonus is connected with the final price or rather with the number of the cars they sell. That sure will affect their techniques.

Anyway, the girls were talking about their managers -- as normally what employees would do during their lunches. Obviously they like one over the other in several ways. And I understand that they would be a poll coming soon and poor managers, what they have to go through.

Since the dealer also has a service work shop. There were many service workers to eat here as well. They were not complaining having too many chicken legs on their plates as the girls do. They all ate a lot!

After the food, I noticed a board on the wall. It was the announcement board. What was announcing there were very interesting to me. Let me find a few and translate to our readers:

• Someone was sleeping in the new car during the working hours -- Fine for RMB50;
• Another was resting in the new car during the working hours -- Fine for RMB30, guess he was sleeping in a lower model car;
• One agent has worked very well and received a praise letter from his customer -- Reward RMB100;
• And there was a new dress code and one had violated the dress code -- Fine for RMB50;

The operation model reminds me of those 20 years ago. It seems easy to import the newest technology, but much harder to change the mindset of the managing model. Whatever works, as long as it brings in cash flows. This is the new mixed developing China.