Heytea's collaboration with table tennis champion Fan Zhendong has sparked a buying frenzy, with limited-edition fridge magnets and luggage tags selling out within minutes of release, prompting many fans to complain that getting one was as hard as snagging concert tickets. Store employees revealed that each branch received very few of the merch items, to the point that even they couldn't get their hands on any. However, some netizens discovered that scalped items had already appeared on second-hand platforms at inflated prices, listed even earlier than the official promotion, raising suspicions that insiders were withholding stock for profit. Whether it's insufficient inventory or artificial scarcity marketing, consumer discontent is spreading, and the brand's collaboration strategy is facing a real test. [more…]

The collaboration between Goodme and Honkai: Star Rail was supposed to be a fan frenzy, but it turned into a reputational crisis due to severe merchandise shortages. On the first day of the event, the official mini-program queue exceeded 1.2 million people, stores in many locations sold out within 3 hours, and high-priced complete merchandise sets appeared on second-hand platforms. Although the brand claimed to have prepared "the largest inventory in history," compared with the previous Love and Deepspace collaboration, whose stock was only one-third of this amount, it clearly underestimated players' purchasing power. What dissatisfied fans even more was that many stores explicitly stated they would not restock, causing the collaboration to end early. This imbalance between traffic and reputation sounded a warning for co-branded marketing in the coffee and tea beverage industry. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's collaboration with "Black Myth: Wukong" ignited the market, with the lenticular card posters selling out rapidly and sparking consumer dissatisfaction. After the official promise of restocking within 15 days, some stores gradually received new supplies, but customers discovered that the production date on the newly arrived posters was July 15, the same as the first batch, raising questions that the brand was passing off old inventory as restocked goods, which once again triggered discussions about Luckin's marketing strategy. The incident exposed multiple issues in the supply chain and inventory management of collaboration merchandise, and also made consumers doubt the brand's sincerity. [more…]

Nayuki's official shop recently sold last year's co-branded limited-edition merchandise for 5.9 yuan with free shipping, including Powerpuff Girls fridge magnets, sparking strong dissatisfaction among consumers who had originally bought designated set meals to obtain the merchandise. Some store employees even revealed that some expired merchandise could be obtained for free without any purchase, simply by checking in and writing a positive review. On one side, fans who spent money on set meals feel let down; on the other, the brand is turning inventory into free gifts or selling it at low prices to avoid waste. Regarding how limited-edition merchandise is handled after a campaign ends, consumer opinions are clearly divided—some support clearing out stock, while others worry that bargain hunters exploiting loopholes could affect future collaborations. [more…]

Luckin Coffee has launched a second collaboration with Honkai: Star Rail, offering limited-edition merchandise. However, many fans discovered after placing their orders that the limited-edition cups and themed paper bags were severely out of stock. Some received only one of the two, while others got neither, forcing them to piece together orders across multiple stores. For collectors, these limited-edition packaging materials included with orders are part of the collaboration experience, and the insufficient restocking at stores left them quite disappointed. Whether brands should ensure packaging supply in tandem when launching new promotional campaigns has become the core of this controversy. [more…]

The recently popular drama "The Tale of Rose" has sparked a wave of coffee collaborations. Luckin drew inspiration from the iconic yellow rose in the show and launched a Yellow Rose Latte along with a matching three-piece set of paper bags, cup sleeves, and keychains. Purchasing the double-cup package would earn a limited-edition collaboration keychain, and as soon as the news broke, it ignited a buying frenzy among drama fans and coffee lovers. However, because stock of the merchandise at each store was extremely limited, many consumers came eager but left empty-handed, and social media was filled with cries of lament. Even more dramatically, the keychain posted by lead actress Liu Yifei was actually not produced by Luckin, adding a touch of controversy to this collaboration campaign. This article walks you through the whole story of this buying frenzy. [more…]

After the TV drama To the Wonder became a hit, the grassland scenery and herder life of Altay, Xinjiang, moved countless viewers, and this "Altay fever" has swept into the new-style tea beverage sector. Under the name of its "Free Matcha" series, Auntea Jenny launched a tie-in with To the Wonder, including long-scroll painting cup sleeves, takeout paper bags, collaborative lenticular card sets, and student film cards, attracting a large number of consumers to snap them up. However, problems emerged on the very first day of the campaign: some stores stocked only 10 pieces of merchandise, takeout orders included the wrong cards, and when customers arrived at stores to pick up their orders, staff took back the student cards in person... Consumers complained endlessly, and customer service apologized everywhere. As observers of the coffee and tea beverage industry, Front Street Coffee also noticed the supply chain and store execution problems behind this collaboration. This article will provide a complete review of the incident and present feedback from all sides. [more…]

Starbucks China officially announced on January 16 a collaboration with the Chinese animated classic Havoc in Heaven, launching a transforming cold brew latte and reusable straw merchandise inspired by the Golden Cudgel, set to go on sale on January 19. Once the news broke, loyal fans and IP enthusiasts were highly excited, but after launch, many netizens found that only the straws were available, while the most anticipated Monkey King head-shaped merchandise was nowhere to be found. Stores in Beijing, Liaoning, Guangdong, Shanghai and other places had very little material, prompting some to joke, "No head, what use is this iron stick?" Although the official had stated in advance that except for the launch cities, stock would arrive between the 21st and 25th, the pace of releasing drinks first and merchandise later, teasing appetites, still left many consumers disappointed. This article reviews the entire collaboration event and netizen feedback, and also reminds brands to prepare more thoroughly when planning such activities. [more…]

Manner recently launched a two-cup set that comes with a matte ceramic mug, but it has sparked widespread discussion due to issues such as water seeping from the bottom and the body cracking after hot water is poured in. Many consumers have reported on social media that this mug, which is claimed to be microwave- and dishwasher-safe, actually cracked suddenly during use, which is worrying. Store employees were even asked to remind customers not to fill it with overly hot liquids, a move that some users mocked with, "A ceramic mug that can't hold hot coffee—doesn't Manner find itself hilarious?" At the same time, some stores still have plenty of stock, in contrast to the previous scenes of being snapped up completely. Is it poor aesthetics, declining quality control, or safety concerns that have put off mug enthusiasts? This article takes you through the details. [more…]

Last weekend, Heytea's new store at Canton Tower officially opened its doors to customers. What should have been a lively opening celebration instead turned into a complaint fest due to the chaotic rules for claiming limited-edition merchandise. The brand launched an exclusive fridge magnet inspired by the Canton Tower and promised that only 200 would be stocked each day, available on a first-come, first-served basis. As soon as the news broke, a large number of fans got up early on their day off and rushed to the scene, only to find disorderly queues, inconsistent explanations from staff, and the quantity of merchandise shrouded in mystery. What annoyed consumers even more was that after they had already placed orders and waited in a long line, they were told when they were about to check in that the merchandise had already been given out, and they could only come back the next day. How did this new store marketing campaign, which should have been a plus, spiral out of control step by step? [more…]

The Christmas collaboration between Heytea and Hello Kitty was supposed to be a fan frenzy, but it was overshadowed by the chaos of scrambling for limited-edition tea bowls. The silver Hello Kitty-shaped tea bowl with a rose-pink tray is small, exquisite, and extremely scarce—each store only received 4 to 6 units, making it as hard to snag as concert tickets. However, before the event even began, consumers on social media reported that some store employees had reserved merchandise in advance for regular customers, and even second-hand platforms saw scalped pre-orders claiming "100% guaranteed stock" and "we'll get it for you." This is not the first time Heytea has encountered issues with collaboration merchandise leaking early and being resold internally; a similar controversy occurred earlier this year during its collaboration with Light and Night. Fans are calling on the brand to thoroughly investigate internal violations, regulate store behavior, and ensure the collaboration event is conducted fairly. [more…]

On the first anniversary of Nayuki's listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, it launched a virtual stock game for its 50 million members. Consumers earn 1 Nayuki Coin for every 1 yuan spent, which can be used to buy and sell virtual stocks tied to the rise and fall of real Hong Kong stocks, and even supports leverage of 2x to 10x. Nayuki Coins can also be redeemed for cash coupons, discount vouchers, and merchandise; a MacBook Air requires 200,000 Nayuki Coins. This move has sparked huge controversy. Some lawyers point out that it is essentially a non-circulating token, but the virtual stock trading and leveraged gameplay may involve financial risks such as illegal fundraising. Meanwhile, Nayuki's Hong Kong stock price has fallen all the way from its issue price of HK$19.8, closing at only HK$6.65 on the first anniversary of its listing, a drop of more than 60%. [more…]

Recently, the TV drama "Forever Night Star River" has surged in popularity, and the milk tea brand Molly Tea took the opportunity to launch a collaboration, but issues such as delayed merchandise, stock shortages, and reselling have led to collective complaints from fans of the show. Although the official side issued an emergency apology on the 15th and promised compensation, the limited-edition paper bags will not be available until the 30th at the earliest, prompting fans to exclaim that "the timeline is too long, and enthusiasm is being worn down." Why did this highly anticipated collaboration fail? Who exactly was hurt when the brand temporarily changed the schedule and store issues occurred frequently? Join Coffee Workshop as we review the entire incident and also take a look at the heartwarming recommendations Front Street Coffee has prepared for coffee lovers. [more…]

Molly Tea has teamed up with Hello Kitty to launch limited-edition drinks and merchandise, drawing a flood of fans who raced to snap them up the moment sales opened. Yet once the promotion began, consumers in many cities reported that their payments went through but they never received the merchandise, and some stores even canceled orders without any notice. Customers who showed up to collect their orders were told the merchandise was first come, first served and would be given out only while supplies lasted, leaving some people to make the trip for nothing. As frustration mounted, disputes between customers and staff broke out at some stores, prompting calls to the police; officers advised those affected to defend their rights through channels such as 12315. The collaboration drew widespread complaints because of problems with merchandise inventory and order management. [more…]

ChaPanda recently officially announced singer Huang Zihongfan as its LOHAS brand ambassador, launching a variety of freshly made fruit drinks and limited-edition merchandise bundles, which attracted a large number of fans to snap them up. However, after the campaign went live, problems kept cropping up: system crashes, orders being forcibly canceled, and insufficient stock of merchandise, one after another, sparking consumer dissatisfaction. Some netizens questioned whether the limited-edition merchandise had been intercepted internally by employees, but more witnesses and ChaPanda staff came forward to explain, saying that stores were equally caught off guard and that employees were under enormous pressure amid the chaos. The company apologized that same evening and promised to speed up restocking and put the items back on sale. [more…]

In the depths of winter, Mixue Bingcheng has once again become a hot topic thanks to its "Northeast Big Floral" elements. The brand launched a series of fridge magnets featuring floral padded jackets and crispy fries merchandise, drawing consumers in with rich Northeastern flair. However, unlike last year's nationwide campaign, this year only certain regions can participate, sparking discontent among southern consumers. At the same time, out-of-stock merchandise has also hurt the experience for some customers. This article sorts through the details of Mixue Bingcheng's marketing campaign, the cultural background of the Northeast Big Floral, and the current state and hidden concerns of merchandise promotions in the new tea beverage industry. [more…]

HEYTEA's collaboration with the popular Japanese anime "Chiikawa" officially launched today, instantly igniting the buying frenzy of fans and consumers. Although the brand had stocked up on merchandise in advance, avoiding an instant sell-out, the massive volume of orders still caught stores off guard: some stores accumulated over a hundred drinks within ten minutes of opening, with themed stores in Shanghai, Guangzhou and other cities receiving as many as seven to eight hundred orders, forcing online ordering channels to be shut down. On-site pickup lines stretched for several meters, with many consumers waiting one to two hours to get their drinks and merchandise, and some even waiting as long as three hours. Meanwhile, the mini-program showing "order ready" in advance while drinks could not be found in the pickup area further exacerbated the on-site chaos. Behind the popularity of this collaboration event, the brand's operational shortcomings in handling instant traffic surges have also been exposed. [more…]

Recently, taking advantage of the release of Paddington in Peru, Cotti Coffee launched a Paddington-themed collaboration set and simultaneously introduced a new sea salt caramel latte series. However, after the campaign kicked off, consumers in many places reported serious shortages of store-related materials, with cup sleeves, collaboration bags, and custom cups frequently out of stock, and even awkward scenes of SpongeBob cups being used as substitutes. At the same time, reviews of the two new drinks were mixed: the Sea Salt Caramel Silky Latte was criticized for being too sweet, while the Sea Salt Caramel Oat Latte was described as too bland. This article will restore the true picture of this collaboration campaign from multiple perspectives, including product taste, the experience of obtaining collaboration merchandise, and Cotti Coffee's internal material supply issues. [more…]

Recently, the collaborative toys released by KFC in partnership with the popular anime "Spy x Family" have sparked widespread discussion due to quality control issues. Multiple consumers have reported on social media that the Anya dolls they received have obvious stains, uneven painting, and even parts installed backwards, with some stains proving difficult to remove. This collaborative meal set went on sale starting September 6 and includes four random toys, but many fans have encountered the dual troubles of store stock shortages or poor product quality. Although some consumers successfully exchanged defective items, the incident still highlights the shortcomings in production and quality control for IP collaboration merchandise, which deserves attention from both brands and fans. [more…]

This Monday, Luckin Coffee's collaboration event with the domestic AAA game Black Myth: Wukong officially launched. However, on the first day, issues such as ordering system failures, merchandise selling out instantly, and redemption anomalies pushed it onto Weibo's trending topics. Players stayed up late to wait and got up early to snap up items, only to encounter situations like "sold out," "unable to redeem," and "stores not receiving stock," with complaints flooding social media. Meanwhile, collaboration posters were being resold at high prices on second-hand platforms. Luckin officially responded later that the system had been repaired and issued a restocking notice, with an estimated production cycle of about 15 days. This article reviews the complete process of this collaboration event and consumer feedback. [more…]