Society

Rising prices force lovebirds to change tune

By Yang Yijun (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-02-15 07:34

SHANGHAI - Lovebirds in this eastern metropolis are celebrating the love season again but, like everything else, the game of romance has been hit by rising prices.

Red roses, which are usually sold for 5 yuan each (76 cents), doubled in price in the leadup to Valentine's Day on Monday. The rising wholesale price and higher transport costs increased the price by 30 percent in most flower stores in Shanghai, local media have reported.

However customers have been wise in selecting their romantic gifts.

"Most of our customers prefer red roses, which are not only a traditional gift choice but also moderately priced," said the owner of a flower store in Hongkou district.

"In contrast, other expensive categories such as black roses, priced between 60 and 80 yuan, rarely attract them," he added.

Most luxury hotels in Shanghai designed various Valentine's packages. They usually contained one night's accommodation, a candlelight dinner and additional services, including in-room champagne and limousine transport.

The Peninsula Shanghai prepared nine such packages priced from 3,999 yuan to 99,999 yuan. However, the most expensive package had not been sold by Monday afternoon, despite a number of inquiries.

"More than half of the customers chose the 3,999-yuan package, as it was the most cost-effective choice," said Chloe Qian, a communications executive at the hotel.

Similarly, the 8,888-yuan package of the Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao, which had a limit of six couples, only received three orders. While more than 10 couples reserved the hotel's Valentine's dinner, priced at 240 yuan, said Cindy Zhao, the hotel's marketing manager.

Many customers could not afford luxury packages, and many smart customers turned to group-buying websites for much cheaper celebration options. On the group-buying website lashou.com, the Wyndham Bund East Shanghai offered a similar package with a discount price of 398 yuan, while the original price was more than 3,000 yuan. Nearly 300 orders had been placed by Monday afternoon.

Roses, movie tickets and candlelight dinners were all items on group-buying websites recently.

Many other couples chose more individual ways to celebrate the festival.

Wu Fang, a 25-year-old white-collar worker, celebrated the first Valentine's with his girlfriend by cooking a four-course dinner at home. "Both of us have spent a lot of money during the Spring Festival, so we decided to have an economical Valentine's," he said.

He had planned to buy a bunch of flowers, but at the last minute he bought a pair of his-and-hers sweaters, which he thought were more useful.

"The whole celebration cost less than 300 yuan, but I think a memorable celebration depends on the emotions you spend rather than the money. I think my girlfriend really enjoyed the night," he said.

China Daily

(China Daily 02/15/2011 page7)