Hongkongers ‘angry’ after home store chain Pricerite hints at closure in marketing ploy

A major Hong Kong furniture chain has drawn backlash for “playing with people’s feelings” after using online posts and storefront signs implying a possible closure as a marketing tactic for a sales campaign.

Hundreds of internet users flooded Pricerite’s Facebook page with angry comments on Tuesday morning, saying the chain had gone overboard, especially at a time when the city was facing a wave of real shop closures amid an economic downturn.

“Thank you for your support over the years,” the 38-year-old company said in a social media post on Monday, triggering speculation about its possible shutdown.

Signs reading “Today was the last day” and “We thank the neighbourhood for its support” were also put up at the entrances of a few branches on the same day.

Scores of internet users left comments asking whether the company was closing down, with some even proposing setting up a victim group for customers who had recently made orders at Pricerite.

The firm revealed that it was only “bidding goodbye to old prices and welcoming groundbreaking new prices” at 9am on Tuesday in an online post.