There's a (thankfully, moderated) discussion on etiquette for China travellers happening on the Oriental List.  Here's an interesting tidbit about Shanghai, and Taiwanese businesses:

<quote>
>>It is also true that there seemed to be a lack of anger or rancor in the
>>actions or affect of others, rather that there was not time to waste.
>
>This was the amazing thing to me as a New Yorker (well, suburban NJ). Taxi
>drivers are incredibly aggressive, even by NY standards, but don't get
>upset when they are cut off. They just shrug and keep going.

What is good manners is also well known in China, people know well what it is, but at the same time they experience daily that good manners don't pay. Since there is basically no tipping, even in the service industries it is all about customer abuse.

Glorious exceptions are private businesses. In case of at least one rather large bar/restaurant in Shanghai, however, I know, that out of total desperation with the Chinese staff, the owner replaced the Chinese waiters entirely with Philippinos for the busy weekends.

In case of Taiwanese run businesses in Shanghai you will find extremely friendly and top professional service, too. That is not to say that Taiwanese are good people because they behave, among their businessmen are just superbly inhuman slave drivers.</quote>

Could the business mentioned by Luna in Xintiandi?  I know that when I went there to buy tickets for Miss Kittin, I was greeted by the most friendly Philipino greeter ever, who engaged me in an intelligent conversation about Southern California--definitely not the usual "California!  Great weather, eh."

Also, whenever the girls at my office talk about their low salaries, the default sigh is "Taiwanese owners, hmm."  I wonder, though, if these businesses can get away with it because they tend to be more honest and less of a hassle to work for than local businesses.