In this edition of Things You Never Knew Were Dangerous, cheap vegetables!
It has been an ongoing news story here that a company, apparently government sponsored, called Shenzhen Central Kitchen Logistics, has been setting up mobile vans selling super cheap produce around the city. The idea is to feed people for less money, which seems pretty good.
However, stores already selling produce for pretty cheap are unable to match the vans' prices. They have become less than pleased as punch. How would this be handled in the US? I'm guessing some sort of legal battle, but I'm pretty sure the government wouldn't be allowed to pull this anyways.
How is it handled in China? Read on.
Paraphrased Shenzhen Daily report from 10.17:
Two employees of Shenzhen Central Kitchen Logistics were beaten by employees of a nearby shopping center and forced to leave the area for selling cheaper vegetables. Chairman of the shopping center the attackers work at later states in an interview, "It is illegal but reasonable to slap the van employees because the vans have taken our business. He is lucky he didn't die."
!! Lucky he didn't die?! Yep. These beatings have been going on with fair frequency, and from what I've read since this October article there are only about half the vans there were supposed to be by this time. Well, I guess the "reasonable" beatings are working.
Read an article from the end of October here. I can't find a link to a more recent article at the moment, but things haven't gotten any better for the poor van workers! I'll keep following the story and let you know what happens.
In the meantime, remember that Competitive Pricing is a Thing-You-Never-Knew-Was-Dangerous!
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