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Smart Mob in China for Retailer Discount

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the tried-in-the-us-but-mob-was-arrested-as-terrorists dept.

taweili writes "The Economist has a story about Tuangou in China. Tuangou, roughly translated into group purchasing, is basically a smart mob who arrange the meet up over the internet and show up at a retailer at a specific time and use their number to negotiate a discount with the retailer. In the story, a Tuangou group of 500 show up in Gomei (largest home electronic retailer in China) at 4pm on June 16th and negotiate a 10 ~ 30% discount for the group. Gomei not only closed the door to the normal customers but also prepared goody bags for these Tuangou shoppers. Now, that's Power to the People!"

5 of 301 comments (clear)

  1. It's done differently in the United States by ribuck · · Score: 1, Redundant
    Here's how it's done in the United States:

    Best Buy Invaded By Blue Shirt Improv Artists

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    Paid Q&A/Research
  2. Actually.. by TrondS · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Actually, you only need 80 http://www.improveverywhere.com/mission_view.php?m ission_id=57

  3. Re:I don't think this would work in the US by Quirk · · Score: 0, Redundant

    As it happened

    --
    "Academicians are more likely to share each other's toothbrush than each other's nomenclature."
    Cohen
  4. Re:I don't think this would work in the US by multisync · · Score: 0, Redundant
    If you got a couple hundred people to go down to your local Best Buy, they'd probably call the cops.


    Just make sure you don't wear blue shirts
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    I don't care why you're posting AC
  5. Purchase directly to the distributor by Cantus · · Score: 0, Redundant

    They might as well purchase directly to the distributor, which already sells the goods to the retailer at a discount price.

    Doh!