Jul 13, 2022, 8:15 am
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）
Jan 24, 2013, 6:07 am
#1
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wechat（微信）
9/13/2015 update
This morning, I created a group named "ft people on wechat". I am pretty sure you can join it by searching for it. If not, just add me (moondogsh), and I'll add you to the group.
The reason I created this group is two-fold:
1. The bj/sh meetings threads here are useless
2. Wechat is a lot more advanced than IB
*************************************************
Since I didn't have a smart phone for several months last year, I was kind of slow to the punch bowl on this phenomenon, but now that I'm on board, I must say that I'm completely wowed. It's nearly as disruptive as the iPhone (leaves other chat clients in the dust, and is extremely "social").
This is just the latest case of a Chinese company copying a Western technology and making it categorically better (other examples include weibo v. Twitter, Qunar v. Kayak, QQ v. MSN, and Dianping v. Groupon).
I particularly like the feature that allows you to switch between your phone and your computer using the QR code (first time I've ever seen a good use for QR codes), though I must admit that offering a PC based client would address the same problem.
This morning, I created a group named "ft people on wechat". I am pretty sure you can join it by searching for it. If not, just add me (moondogsh), and I'll add you to the group.
The reason I created this group is two-fold:
1. The bj/sh meetings threads here are useless
2. Wechat is a lot more advanced than IB
*************************************************
Since I didn't have a smart phone for several months last year, I was kind of slow to the punch bowl on this phenomenon, but now that I'm on board, I must say that I'm completely wowed. It's nearly as disruptive as the iPhone (leaves other chat clients in the dust, and is extremely "social").
This is just the latest case of a Chinese company copying a Western technology and making it categorically better (other examples include weibo v. Twitter, Qunar v. Kayak, QQ v. MSN, and Dianping v. Groupon).
I particularly like the feature that allows you to switch between your phone and your computer using the QR code (first time I've ever seen a good use for QR codes), though I must admit that offering a PC based client would address the same problem.
Last edited by moondog; Sep 12, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Jan 24, 2013, 12:30 pm
#2
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^
Lots of my Chinese friends are hooked on wechat and got me onboard last year. Voice and video capability built in. Very easy to chat with one or several friends at the same time.
The WSJ had a few articles highlighting Tencent's push via wechat and the large increase in subscriber base.
Lots of my Chinese friends are hooked on wechat and got me onboard last year. Voice and video capability built in. Very easy to chat with one or several friends at the same time.
The WSJ had a few articles highlighting Tencent's push via wechat and the large increase in subscriber base.
Jan 25, 2013, 3:33 am
#5
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Well, they're both Tencent products, but it's sort of like comparing DOS and Windows (same company, same basic functionality; the latter is far richer).
Jan 26, 2013, 12:18 am
#6
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Its OK - I find the app to be a little bit slower, but more consistent than QQs. Meaning it never freezes like the QQ one.
When you see people listening to what seems to be a voicemail over and over again....it's weixin
Jan 26, 2013, 10:57 am
#7
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Wechat allows you to leave short audio messages. And the best feature is I don't have to hear the annoying beep beep beep beep beep noise of QQ all around anymore, esp the subway.
Jan 26, 2013, 9:18 pm
#8
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Jan 27, 2013, 10:01 pm
#10
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Since I didn't have a smart phone for several months last year, I was kind of slow to the punch bowl on this phenomenon, but now that I'm on board, I must say that I'm completely wowed. It's nearly as disruptive as the iPhone (leaves other chat clients in the dust, and is extremely "social").
This is just the latest case of a Chinese company copying a Western technology and making it categorically better (other examples include weibo v. Twitter, Qunar v. Kayak, QQ v. MSN, and Dianping v. Groupon).
I particularly like the feature that allows you to switch between your phone and your computer using the QR code (first time I've ever seen a good use for QR codes), though I must admit that offering a PC based client would address the same problem.
This is just the latest case of a Chinese company copying a Western technology and making it categorically better (other examples include weibo v. Twitter, Qunar v. Kayak, QQ v. MSN, and Dianping v. Groupon).
I particularly like the feature that allows you to switch between your phone and your computer using the QR code (first time I've ever seen a good use for QR codes), though I must admit that offering a PC based client would address the same problem.
(Then again I have a work VPN for China/UAE/Saudi travel)
Jan 27, 2013, 10:12 pm
#11
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Jan 27, 2013, 11:25 pm
#12
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I can't believe there is a discussion of we chat without a mention of it's most used feature! The "look around" function that allows you to view all users close by you which can be further sorted either into male or female users.
Jan 27, 2013, 11:44 pm
#13
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ie.. the "Shake" function. I have some friends here in HK that use to exclusively try to pick up girls...
One can leave short audio messages on WhatsApp too (i know a Chinese friend of mine has done it). was a surprise to me!
One can leave short audio messages on WhatsApp too (i know a Chinese friend of mine has done it). was a surprise to me!
Jan 28, 2013, 3:35 am
#14
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