With Birkin bags, Moutai sold out and memberships withdrawn, was Costco’s stunning Shanghai debut a one-day wonder after all?

Costco sees dozens of membership withdrawals only days after thousands of consumers overwhelmed the retailer’s operations during its Shanghai debut

Dozens of shoppers who had each paid 299 yuan to obtain a membership card had cancelled, and were seeking refunds

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Shoppers queue up to withdraw their membership at Costco’s first mainland China store in Shanghai on Tuesday. Photo: Daniel Ren

Published: 7:00pm, 4 Sep 2019Updated: 7:00pm, 4 Sep 2019

US supermarket giant Costco has been hit by a wave of membership withdrawals in China just a week after it made a roaring debut in Shanghai as consumers were disappointed that the huge discounts on items ranging from Kweichow Moutai liquor to Hermes’ Birkin bags had ended.

Dozens of shoppers who had paid 299 yuan (US$41.73) to obtain a membership card were seen queuing up to cancel it and get a refund on Tuesday evening.

Costco said it had registered more than 100,000 members in Shanghai. The company could not be reached for comment on its membership status in Shanghai on Wednesday.

The outlet in Minhang, about 30km from the city centre, is open to members only, who can withdraw their membership and get their registration fee back within 90 days.

Some shoppers on Tuesday complained that prices of food products and daily necessities appeared to be higher than those sold on e-commerce platforms and at other retailers.

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