September 10, 2007

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Last Updated on September 11, 2007 by stlplace

The saga of applying the US visa. Warning: for entertainment purpose only. I am not providing any advice for visa application.

Last Friday I went to the US consulate Shanghai for the worker visa, with my wife applying H-4. Ten years have passed since I first applied the student visa. A lot things have changed: namely Internet and call center. These technologies have been integrated into the visa application process, such as the calling card (issued by China Citic Bank) and the appointment system. Here is how it works: the applicant buys the calling card from the bank, call the 400 number (like 800 # in the US), talk to the representative and schedule the appointment. We got our appointment that way. But when we reached the West Nanjing Rd. at 12:45 PM, wait for our 1:15 PM appointment, we found a long line already being formed. Later we learned the appointment system is used for the consulate to estimate how many people will show up, in reality the applicants still show up in early morning or afternoon, waiting the line. Because most everyone (except me, and few others) is so eager to visit US 🙂

Price war leaves bad taste to loyal customers

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Last Updated on September 10, 2007 by stlplace

Last week one of the biggest news in consumer electronics arena is Apple decided to cut the iPhone price. Consider Apple just started shipping iPhone in late June, this move is a blow to its most loyal customers (early adopters). Apple quickly responded to the angry customers by offering $100 credit (source: Apple.com).

From my own experience, US car makers do those kind of price cut all the time. They carry out price wars mainly in two ways: rebate and/or low interest loan. Sometimes I saw a $8000 rebate on a 20 to 30 k truck or SUV. One side effect of those kind of promotion is the lower residual value of pre-owned cars (trucks), compared to similar model Japanese cars/trucks.

Interestingly, this car price wars are now extended in China, for the good or bad of consumer. On the good side, the new customers can buy the cars on the cheap; on the other hand, the early (loyal) customers paid a premium for the car. This is an Chinese article talking about Hyundai cars. The war is not limited to Korean car makers. It appears to me low end car makers have most to lose; while high end cars such as BMW still have much price power. (Picture below: Hyundai Coupe).

hyundai cars pic

PS, after I wrote the above, I realized there is difference between price cut and price war. But I think there is a strong connection between the two: price cut is the tactics of a price war, e.g., Apple announced a price war against its competitors (Motorola, Palm, RIM etc.) by cutting the iPhone price. Now the competitors will have to respond by cutting their prices if they don’t want to give up market share.