Yes, mundane as it sounds, it is worth a blog.

In a hurry, I asked Haiping to procure some for me. She diligently researched, on Internet of course, and found the desirable one. What happens after is where the American and Chinese experiences diverge.

She picked up the phone, spoke to a human being, confirmed the availability (just briefly), and placed the order. A day later, a young man, a bit sweaty and in such need of a shower that I wished to shorten our interaction as much as possible, rang my doorbell and presented me with the merchandise: 5 2GB USB-stick for 66rmb each. Plus 5rmb of shipping makes the total 335. Yes siree, I bought 5 USB sticks for US$48.33, call it US$10 each.

Find me a place the shipping charge is less than a dollar in US.