http://www.chinatownstories.com/fung-wah-my-how-youve-grown/ Blogging as I trek to Chinese communities on six continents Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:48:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.chinatownstories.com/fung-wah-my-how-youve-grown/#comment-253 Ben Ross Mon, 14 Jun 2010 06:36:34 +0000 http://chinatownstories.com/blog/?p=591#comment-253 My guess is that running a bus operation is probably cheaper than most people think, provided it is run efficiently. Megabus (a British company) is now running some extremely cheap routs from its Chicago based network, with surprisingly comfortable buses, and surprisingly unsketchy employees. I took it to Cleveland in January and to St. Louis two weeks ago, and round trip none of my tickets exceeded fifty bucks. I know they also have an East Coast network based out of New York with rates similar to those of the Chinatown bus. Plus they have wifi onboard for some of the ride. My guess is that running a bus operation is probably cheaper than most people think, provided it is run efficiently. Megabus (a British company) is now running some extremely cheap routs from its Chicago based network, with surprisingly comfortable buses, and surprisingly unsketchy employees. I took it to Cleveland in January and to St. Louis two weeks ago, and round trip none of my tickets exceeded fifty bucks. I know they also have an East Coast network based out of New York with rates similar to those of the Chinatown bus. Plus they have wifi onboard for some of the ride.

]]> http://www.chinatownstories.com/fung-wah-my-how-youve-grown/#comment-245 Michelle Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:38:21 +0000 http://chinatownstories.com/blog/?p=591#comment-245 Good question, I also wonder about this. Fung Wah's costs must be higher than that of the smaller other Chinatown bus companies, but I think in general these companies have little overhead and accept slimmer margins. Skeleton crew, lower salaries, no corporate offices, no HR departments, no traditional advertising, no proper bus stations. Fung Wah has a counter and gate in Boston, but in New York their passengers are just waiting on the sidewalk, and their buses are parking on the side of the street. Basically, they're using (free) public space to conduct business. Good question, I also wonder about this. Fung Wah’s costs must be higher than that of the smaller other Chinatown bus companies, but I think in general these companies have little overhead and accept slimmer margins. Skeleton crew, lower salaries, no corporate offices, no HR departments, no traditional advertising, no proper bus stations. Fung Wah has a counter and gate in Boston, but in New York their passengers are just waiting on the sidewalk, and their buses are parking on the side of the street. Basically, they’re using (free) public space to conduct business.

]]> http://www.chinatownstories.com/fung-wah-my-how-youve-grown/#comment-236 julia Sun, 13 Jun 2010 02:25:12 +0000 http://chinatownstories.com/blog/?p=591#comment-236 I wonder how they can maintain the counter and be so legit and still charge just $15. Do they pay nothing to the bus drivers? Or do the Greyhounds and others just really overcharge us? I wonder how they can maintain the counter and be so legit and still charge just $15. Do they pay nothing to the bus drivers? Or do the Greyhounds and others just really overcharge us?

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