'Reverse shopping' flips consumers' script

One moment, the sky is clear, and the next, a cold, damp wind sweeps in from the sea. Rain hits the glass walls at an angle, while palm trees shake in the wind. This is what winter in Sydney is like.

Wearing a light raincoat I bought online from China, I was hurrying to an interview in Sydney's business district when an outdoor shop's window caught my eye.

Inside was a raincoat that looked much like mine. The price tag read A$129.99 ($90).

I looked down at my Chinese-made raincoat, which cost less than A$20. It was waterproof and breathable, and came with a removable hood and a small storage bag. It had already protected me through a whole Sydney winter.

Ten years ago, I would never have believed this.

Back then, living in China, I was a true believer in imported goods and often stocked up on skincare products, small appliances, food, and vitamins during overseas trips.

Someone once told me that the same international brand of face cream could be of "better quality" when bought overseas. I remained unconvinced, but I still made sure to buy at least a six-month supply whenever I traveled abroad.

At the time, foreign products seemed to represent a better and more stylish way of life.

When I first moved to Australia, everything felt fresh and exciting. The milk cartons said, "100 percent Aussie farmer-owned". My kitchen was full of Australian baking ingredients, and on weekends, I could open a bottle of shiraz from a winery just over 100 kilometers away.

For a while, I thought I had reached my ideal shopping life. But reality soon showed another side.

I wanted a dress in a certain color and cut, but local shopping centers offered only a few choices. Prices often went above A$200, and many of the dresses did not fit me well.

When I lived in China, having a robot vacuum at home was already part of my daily life. In Chinese cities, it has become a common household appliance. In Australia, however, there were fewer brands to choose from, and prices were often much higher.

I also wanted to try camping, as many Australians do on weekends. But the prices of tents, folding chairs, and camping cookware made me think twice.

Meanwhile, my friends in China were talking online about new makeup products, smart camping trolleys, and rice cookers that could be controlled from a smartphone. The designs were fresh, the choices were wide, and the prices were hard to resist.

What surprised me was that Chinese products were no longer attractive only because of their price. They were also becoming better designed, better made, and matched more closely to daily needs.

A camping box that also served as a table. A small lamp offered several brightness settings and charged a phone. Even a simple raincoat came in many colors, sizes and designs.

Behind this was a wider change in Chinese manufacturing. Companies were paying more attention to quality, design and new functions. When consumers showed interest in a product, businesses could quickly improve it and offer many new versions.

China's large manufacturing base and extensive supply chains made this possible. Designers, factories, parts suppliers, online stores, and delivery companies could work closely together to help new products reach the market quickly and at a reasonable price.

My first experience of "reverse shopping" happened when my mother came to visit me in Australia. Along with food from home, she brought a small Chinese-made clothes steamer that I had repeatedly asked for. It cost me less than A$20.

It may sound like a small thing, but it solved a real problem. When I traveled for work, my suits often came out of the suitcase badly creased. The steamer quickly became one of the most useful items in my luggage.

Later, I realized many Chinese people around me were doing the same thing. When family members came to visit, half their luggage was often filled with products made in China.

Then Chinese shopping platforms began offering direct delivery to Australia, with free shipping above a certain amount, parcel tracking, and local returns.

Now I buy many daily items from China. Opening a package after two or three weeks of shipping feels just as exciting as finding imported goods overseas once did. Better quality, more choices, good prices, and an efficient supply chain have made Chinese products more competitive.

In the end, where a product comes from matters less than whether it works well, lasts long and makes life easier.

The author is a correspondent at China Daily Asia-Pacific bureau based in Sydney.

Contact the writer at xinxin@chinadaily.com.cn