In mainland China, some Starbucks employees have revealed being assigned the task of selling mooncakes. If they cannot sell them, they have to advance 3000 yuan (RMB) to purchase them themselves, causing concern.
Recently, a netizen from Hunan Province posted that they are a college student and part-time Starbucks employee. The task of selling mooncakes in the store has turned the Mid-Autumn Festival into a “Mid-Autumn Robbery.”
The netizen said, “I was forced to advance for 15 boxes, totaling nearly 3000 yuan. Can anyone help this poor college student replenish the funds? I have no more living expenses.”
In response to the situation, a Starbucks customer service hotline staff member replied, “In your case, I will make a clear record for you, and there will be someone following up.”
There are sellers on second-hand trading platforms selling Starbucks mooncakes at low prices who also claim to be Starbucks employees. They have to sell at a loss to meet sales targets.
“One goal was for 25 boxes, but I have already advanced for 5 boxes, which is over a thousand (yuan). I am selling at a very low price now, trying to make some money back. I even used partner vouchers, but no one cares. There is pressure every week, setting target plans. It was said that if we don’t meet the goal for three pay cycles, we won’t get bonuses. I am a full-time employee, so the urgency is even higher than part-time.”
Another netizen commented, “I really faced substantial punishment. It’s not just empty threats. If we don’t open continuously, we have to do special cleaning. That’s fine, but another punishment is going to support a store in a complicated location. I am genuinely scared and do not want to go there for support, and only half of the travel expenses are reimbursed.”
In a live broadcast report, a seller from Dalian mentioned that the store’s assigned task is to sell one box per week. Currently, the mooncakes, originally priced at 358 yuan per box (six pieces), are sold at 175 yuan per box, and the ones priced at 468 yuan per box (eight pieces) are sold at 248 yuan per box. The seller said, “We have to contribute a bit ourselves. Without investing money, we cannot sell them.”
The seller confirmed having sales targets but was not forced to complete them. The pressure of the task varies from person to person and location to location. Some sellers in the southern parts have even lower prices on the second-hand platform, leading her to speculate that “perhaps they are under more pressure.”
On September 10, the aforementioned situation was reported to Starbucks customer service hotline. The staff responded that they would record and forward it to internal specialists for handling and ensure a response. However, as of the time of writing, Starbucks has not provided a response.
Regarding the news, Starbucks responded to Sina Finance, saying, “First, regarding the situation mentioned by netizens, we are verifying it. Starbucks does not allow the practice of advancing money for self-purchasing. This is a matter of principle. Second, Starbucks’ mooncakes, beloved by customers for their unique taste and design, receive a lot of attention every year upon release. We urge customers to purchase our mooncakes through official channels to protect their consumer rights.”
Wu Xingjian, a lawyer from Hubei Chiseng Law Firm, believes that if a company requires employees to purchase products themselves or advance payment for goods when assigning sales tasks, they will bear significant legal risks. “Labor contracts should follow the principles of voluntariness, equality, and negotiation. Companies transferring operational risks to employees go against the fundamental nature of labor relations.”