Last edit by: moondog
The "FT People on WeChat" group
Our group chat is comprised of FT members and friends of FT members. We talk about pretty much anything except for politics (because Papa Bear has the ability to watch over us). The group has its own QR code, but it has a short shelf life (e.g. about 5 days), so I'm not including it here. The easiest way to join is to add me as a contact (moondogsh) and let me put you in the group.
Contacting Tencent Customer Support
If you want to get in touch with Tencent customer service (e.g. to update your passport number or change your name format so it aligns with your bank accounts), most web resources will advise you to simply message the "WeChat Team" contact. It is extremely difficult to get a human response when using this approach. Calling them also results in a bot experience.
However, the following drill works as of July 2022 (specific menu options can always change, of course; the key is getting yourself to step 5 below):
1. Dial 95716 (or +86 4009100100 from outside of China)
2. Select option 1 for personal accounts
3. Enter your connected phone number followed by #
3. Select option 2 for other questions
4. The bot will ask you to describe your issue using voice; just speak to it in English; it won't understand and will ask you to repeat 3-5 times before giving up
5. Now, the bot will give you ~8 menu options; through trial and error, I can state that option 7 is good for immediate transfer to a human (some of the others might work as well)
6. When the representative picks up, you definitely need to speak Chinese, but your request is presumably fairly easy to convey, and their responses are also pretty simple
7. They might want to move the conversation over to WeChat; this is okay because they will send you an invite to a special customer service queue, which is only ~60% automated
Our group chat is comprised of FT members and friends of FT members. We talk about pretty much anything except for politics (because Papa Bear has the ability to watch over us). The group has its own QR code, but it has a short shelf life (e.g. about 5 days), so I'm not including it here. The easiest way to join is to add me as a contact (moondogsh) and let me put you in the group.
Contacting Tencent Customer Support
If you want to get in touch with Tencent customer service (e.g. to update your passport number or change your name format so it aligns with your bank accounts), most web resources will advise you to simply message the "WeChat Team" contact. It is extremely difficult to get a human response when using this approach. Calling them also results in a bot experience.
However, the following drill works as of July 2022 (specific menu options can always change, of course; the key is getting yourself to step 5 below):
1. Dial 95716 (or +86 4009100100 from outside of China)
2. Select option 1 for personal accounts
3. Enter your connected phone number followed by #
3. Select option 2 for other questions
4. The bot will ask you to describe your issue using voice; just speak to it in English; it won't understand and will ask you to repeat 3-5 times before giving up
5. Now, the bot will give you ~8 menu options; through trial and error, I can state that option 7 is good for immediate transfer to a human (some of the others might work as well)
6. When the representative picks up, you definitely need to speak Chinese, but your request is presumably fairly easy to convey, and their responses are also pretty simple
7. They might want to move the conversation over to WeChat; this is okay because they will send you an invite to a special customer service queue, which is only ~60% automated
wechat(微信)
#91
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 91
When I go to HowToChina.com I just get a box asking for an email address. Is there a different link? Thanks
#92
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,991
We haven't turned on the website yet because we can't accommodate more than 20 users at this point in time (as you might imagine "how to x China?" is a pretty common search term). But, if you're in Wechat, you can simply search for it (no spaces). Alternatively, I can email you the QR code.
#93
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,991
My biz partner (also in China) and I tried out the recent "video call" feature for the first time earlier this week during one of our evening calls because Skype was being annoying. I had noticed previously, but dismissed it as something that would surely be a let down. Furthermore, I simply don't like the idea of video calls (we're not living the Jetsons' Era yet, after all... as soon as I get my first robotic ayi, I'll succumb to the video thing).
Anyway, I took the plunge, and was simply blown away by the quality... AMAZING. Furthermore, I learned how to disable video within the first 3 seconds... so no problems there.
I would probably only use this function when on wifi because (based on the video/sound clarity) I'm guessing the data consumption is non-trivial.
Anyway, I took the plunge, and was simply blown away by the quality... AMAZING. Furthermore, I learned how to disable video within the first 3 seconds... so no problems there.
I would probably only use this function when on wifi because (based on the video/sound clarity) I'm guessing the data consumption is non-trivial.
#94
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 91
Moondog, sorry about that. I totally forgot the time difference. In my defense I haven't slept in close to 42 hours, so I'm a little askew. Anyway, yes please do send me the QR code. Is there a Wechat tutorial? So far here's what I have on there: the Wechat team and you. Technology + me = kaploooie.
#95
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,449
All through WeChat
http://androidcommunity.com/xiaomi-m...sale-20131129/
I really wished I could get a MI3, but it seems they'll keep their superior phones for themselves
http://androidcommunity.com/xiaomi-m...sale-20131129/
I really wished I could get a MI3, but it seems they'll keep their superior phones for themselves
#96
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PEK & MKE
Programs: Amex-gold, Hainan-gold, Mrt-LT Titanium
Posts: 1,352
- Thread Op- I just did install we-chat on this phone, so now have we-chat on both the Ipad 2 & the phone.
#97
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KIX, ITM, UKB, YVR
Programs: Star Alliance - AC
Posts: 2,355
Partly due to this thread, I have downloaded wechat.
Must admit, this is pretty cool tool. I really like and dislike the mini posts people make of the stuff they are selling. This can be a great marketing tool for the future.
I don't understand the bottle feature but the shake feature is just a tad creepy.
Annoying part of this is the constant barrage of updates my pals seems to make and the drain on my battery.
Moondog, is that a picture of you in the train?
Must admit, this is pretty cool tool. I really like and dislike the mini posts people make of the stuff they are selling. This can be a great marketing tool for the future.
I don't understand the bottle feature but the shake feature is just a tad creepy.
Annoying part of this is the constant barrage of updates my pals seems to make and the drain on my battery.
Moondog, is that a picture of you in the train?
#98
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PEK & MKE
Programs: Amex-gold, Hainan-gold, Mrt-LT Titanium
Posts: 1,352
I like the Discover people nearby and the Album feature. Also some of the china conferences/Forums have a we-chat ID with the schedules and other reference notes.
#99
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Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,991
I finally linked one of my CCs to Wechat today (I didn't think this was possible for non-China ID holders because whenever trying to register my Chinese cards, I was unable to get past the ID field, but I can now confirm that Visa/MC/Discover work fine). Now, I'll never need to ask a Chinese person to top up my phones again, and payment QR codes are going to start popping up everywhere (e.g. convenience stores, taxis, restaurants).
#100
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: New England
Programs: UA 1K / HH Diamond
Posts: 239
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.4.2; HTC One_M8 Build/KOT49H) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/35.0.1916.141 Mobile Safari/537.36)
Good to hear it works for you. Not sure about the non-Chenises ID bit though.
I never had that and was able to set up using Chase Corp Visa perfectly.
Originally Posted by moondog
I finally linked one of my CCs to Wechat today (I didn't think this was possible for non-China ID holders because whenever trying to register my Chinese cards, I was unable to get past the ID field, but I can now confirm that Visa/MC/Discover work fine). Now, I'll never need to ask a Chinese person to top up my phones again, and payment QR codes are going to start popping up everywhere (e.g. convenience stores, taxis, restaurants).
I never had that and was able to set up using Chase Corp Visa perfectly.
#101
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KIX, ITM, UKB, YVR
Programs: Star Alliance - AC
Posts: 2,355
I finally linked one of my CCs to Wechat today (I didn't think this was possible for non-China ID holders because whenever trying to register my Chinese cards, I was unable to get past the ID field, but I can now confirm that Visa/MC/Discover work fine). Now, I'll never need to ask a Chinese person to top up my phones again, and payment QR codes are going to start popping up everywhere (e.g. convenience stores, taxis, restaurants).
We still top up our cell phones via taobao from Japan, no need for a credit card and you get a small discount.
#102
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,991
I've been asking colleagues to top up for me for about 8 months. They used to use taobao but made the switch to wx earlier this month. The process is really fast!
#103
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,991
Today, Tencent relaxed its restrictions wrt foreign company Wechat accounts:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/cgi-bin/ann...=11&lang=zh_CN
This is good news for many of you -- who want to sell in China without having a Chinese entity.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/cgi-bin/ann...=11&lang=zh_CN
This is good news for many of you -- who want to sell in China without having a Chinese entity.
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,210
We Chat is a great way to advertise your products or services. For now, however, the best and probably only smart bet for selling directly to China without having an entity here is to open a TMall Global account. Just ask Costco.
#105
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,991
Your customers (past, present, future) don't browse Tmall unless you send them there. All of them are on Wechat.