An SQE on his first trip to China for supplier inspection work can be easily overwhelmed by the totally different operating environment that awaits him. When he arrives at a supplier's location, his initial disorientation and unease in an unfamiliar environment are noticed by the supplier and these are exploited to the supplier's advantage. In remote places like Dongguan, posh resort style hotel is like an oasis in the desert. It is common practice for suppliers to host SQEs in one and picking up the tabs. SQEs are made very comfortable.
Work day is kept short by the craftily arranged pick up and drop off time.
When evening comes, the SQE is well wined and dined. Nightly dinner is an assured gourmet delight. Everything is done to lift the spirit of the lonely SQE and deliver a sympathetic message that they will do all that is necessary to make the SQE's job easier. From our casebook, we have one customer who had just spent 2 days visiting a plant and was visibly impressed. The supplier showed him what they thought he should see and told him what they wanted him to hear.