Buyers in Bulk

China discovers flash mob shopping:

Last month, Fiona Li did what millions of Chinese shoppers do to find a bargain: she went online.

A few clicks later, she had a lead on where to buy the consumer goodies her brother wanted for his new apartment. Instead of reaching for her credit card, though, she jotted down a time and a place: 8 p.m. at a downtown electronics store.

That evening, Ms. Li and her brother joined 15 strangers at the store to demand a group discount on a new television, refrigerator, and washing machine.

Via Marginal Revolution.

Comments

MikeP | May 15, 2006, 12:24pm | #

I was struck by how little savings they were getting. From the examples given, you'd almost think this was organized by the retailers:

You mean I get to have 15 people come into my store and all buy the same product for a 10% discount? And I don't even have to pay for advertising? Cool!

Just as conscious as the buyer is in a bargaining culture, the seller is conscious of the exact lowest price he can sell for. The seller has a hard floor and an easy job: it's the buyer who is paying all the costs of coordination and travel in this set up.

Douglas Fletcher | May 15, 2006, 4:03pm | #

I don't know, in a country with a billion people, if I were a retailier I might be seriously worried about people demanding group discounts, if this kind of thing were to catch on.

I think I might try it next time I'm buying so coffee at the local coffeehouse. Just for larfs.

jeffiek | May 15, 2006, 4:05pm | #

Ya gotta give 'em credit. A's for creativity, originality, and effort.

It doesn't sound like a stable system. It will probably evolve. They're new at this, give 'em time.

Deus ex Machina | May 15, 2006, 11:08pm | #

Today, flash mob shopping...

Tomorrow, flash mob overthrow of an authoritarian government.