Sleeping plans save money ( 2003-09-11 10:27) (China Daily)
University freshmen in Guangxi prefer to buy their
bedding from older students - they think the sheets and quilts that universities
provide are expensive, according to a local newspaper report.
A freshman prepares
to settle into campus with her parents' help. Some university freshmen buy
their bedding from their seniors to save money.
[newsphoto.com.cn]
At some universities, a bedding package costs 300 yuan (US$36). But, if you
buy them from a student, it will only cost you 200 yuan (US$24) or less.
At Guangxi University, only 20 per cent of the freshmen bought bedding from
the school this year, according to the university housing office.
"I only had one day to get settled down, so it would be hard to go look
around downtown. And, buying from another student is much cheaper," said Liu
Guang, a freshman.
For some older students, selling bedding has turned out to be profitable.
One senior said that he could make a 50-yuan profit off one set of bedding.
However, since those students mainly get their supplies from wholesalers,
they don't know much about the quality and the freshmen customers have no one to
turn to if they have problems with the goods.
A man named Wang, who works in the university housing office, said that in
fact they won't insist that students buy their bedding from his office. Students
can buy it anywhere.
Students at universities elsewhere don't always have to worry about their
beddings. At Peking University, students have a new set of bedding on their
bunks before they even arrive. They pay for it along with their other school
fees. Some students find this a convenient way to start.
