Crab vouchers have become popular among Chinese customers in recent years, suggesting economic progress and consumption upgrade. People prepay for crab vouchers at a lower price, expecting to cash them like rising stocks when picking up crabs from physical or online stores during crab season. However, problems remain because some sellers tend to force up prices and provide more vouchers than goods, which leaves many customers without their goods time and again due to short supply.

Since the over sale of crab vouchers leads sellers to focus less on the quality of goods, farmers raising crabs can also be misled to expanding production blindly and ending up seeing slow sales.

Similar to financial products, crab vouchers are seemingly good gifts but may pose risks when sellers lose credibility and fail to redeem goods. As a result, farmers or consumers may suffer economic losses.

Although vouchers are indeed conducive to the circulation of goods, measures are needed to ensure product supply and a crackdown on fraud. Authorities should improve supervision on e-commerce platforms and regulate the operation of related industries. Consumers also need to keep a clear mind on purchasing vouchers.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in People's Daily on October 22)