What's wrong with my gift?

Question

Brandon is doing business in China. He has brought an expensive gift from his company to present to his Chinese counterpart. He gives this gift, which is neatly wrapped in yellow and black, Brandon’s company’s colors, to the man before negotiations on the contract are completed. The man receives the gift awkwardly. There are three things wrong with what Brandon has done. What are they?

Answer 1

Only three???

In China gift giving is considered a form of bribery; The color black is used for funerals; You would generally give a gift to the Company or Organization, instead of one person, unless you're doing so as a gesture of friendship, and this should be done in private; You give the gift at the end of negations; and it should be a modest gift.

Touche

Answer 2

Yellow is reserved for Emperors.

Gift giving needs to be for a good reason in the Chinese culture. I am not sure if giving a gift is such a great idea in this type of situation. Perhaps AFTER the deal is done.

Is there an issue with the company buying the present and then you giving it to the man... shouldn't it be presented to the company in China by the company in the States?

Answer 3

Is this a quiz?

What Brandon did wrong was not learning the culture in which he is doing business. Gifts in the Chinese culture are usually presented wrapped in the color red. It is also the color of good luck and success. Giving him a gift, especially a business gift wrapped in a color other than red may have conveyed that Brandon was not sincere and/or did not like or wish him well.

Answer 4

1. Giving a gift before negotiations are complete is considered a bribe.

2. He did not explain that it was from his company, instead choosing to let the wrapping say it for him.

3. The last one is a little tricky, it's either that he gave it to the man in front of someone else, or they did not go through the "no I can't", "please do I insist" ritual where the counterpart would turn it down until the fourth offering in which he would accept.

Answer 5

well i'm not a business major but i'll take a guess 1) some yellow-black color could be offensive to chinese 2) he gave gift before negotiations are complete 3) perhaps handing the gift to the chinese guy was too direct in chinese culture. Just guesses.

Answer 6

International Gift Giving Etiquette - China

GIFT GIVING IN CHINA* - Gift Giving Etiquette

BUSINESS GIFT GIVING - PERSONAL GIFT GIVING

General Guidelines

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Lavish gift giving was an important part of Chinese culture in the past. Today, official policy in Chinese business culture forbids giving gifts; this gesture is considered bribery, an illegal act in this country. Consequently, your gift may be declined.
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In many organizations, however, attitudes surrounding gifts are beginning to relax. In any case, you will have to approach giving gifts with discretion, as outlined in the following points.
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If you wish to give a gift to an individual, you must do it privately, in the context of friendship, not business.
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The Chinese will decline a gift three times before finally accepting, so as not to appear greedy. You will have to continue to insist. Once the gift is accepted, express gratitude. You will be expected to go through the same routine if you are offered a gift.
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In the presence of other people, never present a valuable gift to one person. This gesture will cause only embarrassment, and possibly even problems for the recipient, given the strict rules against bribery in Chinese business culture. Do not take any photograph of any gift giving unless it is a symbolic gift presented to the organization as a whole.
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Giving a gift to the entire company, rather than an individual, can be acceptable in Chinese business culture as long as you adhere to the following rules:
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All business negotiations should be concluded before gifts are exchanged.
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Specify that the gift is from the company you represent. If you can, explain the meaning of the gift to the receiver.
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Present the gift to the leader of the Chinese negotiating team.
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Do not get anything that is obviously expensive, so that the company will not feel obliged to reciprocate.
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Valuable gifts should be given to an individual only in private and strictly as a gesture of friendship.
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Make sure that the gifts given to people of the same level of importance are equitable or of similar grade. Somehow, they may find out later, and the difference may lead to strains in your relationship.


If possible, have your gifts wrapped in red paper, which is considered a lucky color. Plain red paper is one of the few “safe” choices since a variety of meanings, many of which are negative, are attributed to colors in Chinese culture.
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Wrapping in yellow paper with black writing is a gift given only to the dead. Also, do check the variations from region to region about colors.
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Because colors have so many different meanings in this culture, your safest option is to entrust the task of gift-wrapping to a store or hotel that offers this service.

Answer 7

He bought a gift from his own company. He used his company colors. He gave the gift before negotiations were complete.

Answer 8

The reciever may feel awkward because he didn't have a gift to return. He may feel Brandon is sucking up and trying to bribe him. Maybe the yellow and black made him think of bees? lol

Answer 9

He gave a gift that was made in Japan. He used the wrong paper color.

Answer 10

My guesses are: obligating the recipient, poor color choice and the appearance of a bribe. How close am I?