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미국 회원제 할인마트 코스트코의 중국 1호점이 지난 27일 오전 상하이에 문을 열었다. 코스트코 상하이 매장은 문을 연 지 4시간 만인 이날 오후 1시경 영업을 중단해야 했다. 매장에 너무 많은 인파가 몰려 큰 혼란이 빚어졌기 때문이다.
People visit the first Costco outlet in China, on the stores opening day in Shanghai on August 27, 2019. - China has proved a brutal battleground for overseas food retailers in recent years, with many failing to understand consumer habits and tastes as well as local competitors building a stronger presence. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images) ⓒHECTOR RETAMAL via Getty Images 중국 관영 신화통신 에 따르면 고객들은 계산대에서 2시간씩 줄을 서는가 하면, 주차를 위해 3시간을 기다렸다고도 밝혔다. 인파가 붐벼 매장이 아수라장으로 변하자 코스트코는 이날 오후 회원들에게 ”매장이 인파로 가득 찼다. 여러분께 더 나은 쇼핑 경험을 제공하기 위해 오후에는 영업을 중단한다”라는 내용의 안내 메시지를 전송하고 매장 문을 닫았다.
SHANGHAI, CHINA - AUGUST 24: People stand in front of a Costco store on August 24, 2019 in Shanghai, China. Costco Wholesale Corp. will open its first store in mainland China on August 27. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) ⓒVCG via Getty Images TOPSHOT - People visit the first Costco outlet in China, on the stores opening day in Shanghai on August 27, 2019. - China has proved a brutal battleground for overseas food retailers in recent years, with many failing to understand consumer habits and tastes as well as local competitors building a stronger presence. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images) ⓒHECTOR RETAMAL via Getty Images People visit the first Costco outlet in China, on the stores opening day in Shanghai on August 27, 2019. - China has proved a brutal battleground for overseas food retailers in recent years, with many failing to understand consumer habits and tastes as well as local competitors building a stronger presence. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images) ⓒHECTOR RETAMAL via Getty Images People visit the first Costco outlet in China, on the stores opening day in Shanghai on August 27, 2019. - China has proved a brutal battleground for overseas food retailers in recent years, with many failing to understand consumer habits and tastes as well as local competitors building a stronger presence. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images) ⓒHECTOR RETAMAL via Getty Images People visit the first Costco outlet in China, on the stores opening day in Shanghai on August 27, 2019. - China has proved a brutal battleground for overseas food retailers in recent years, with many failing to understand consumer habits and tastes as well as local competitors building a stronger presence. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images) ⓒHECTOR RETAMAL via Getty Images TOPSHOT - People try to get a roast chicken at the first Costco outlet in China, on the stores opening day in Shanghai on August 27, 2019. - China has proved a brutal battleground for overseas food retailers in recent years, with many failing to understand consumer habits and tastes as well as local competitors building a stronger presence. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images) ⓒHECTOR RETAMAL via Getty Images People try to get a roast chicken at the first Costco outlet in China, on the stores opening day in Shanghai on August 27, 2019. - China has proved a brutal battleground for overseas food retailers in recent years, with many failing to understand consumer habits and tastes as well as local competitors building a stronger presence. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images) ⓒHECTOR RETAMAL via Getty Images People visit the first Costco outlet in China, on the stores opening day in Shanghai on August 27, 2019. - China has proved a brutal battleground for overseas food retailers in recent years, with many failing to understand consumer habits and tastes as well as local competitors building a stronger presence. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images) ⓒHECTOR RETAMAL via Getty Images People visit the first Costco outlet in China, on the stores opening day in Shanghai on August 27, 2019. - China has proved a brutal battleground for overseas food retailers in recent years, with many failing to understand consumer habits and tastes as well as local competitors building a stronger presence. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images) ⓒHECTOR RETAMAL via Getty Images 현장에는 교통체증 해소와 질서 회복을 위해 경찰이 배치됐다. 현지 경찰 당국은 공식 웨이보를 통해 ”현재 매장 내 인파가 붐비고 주변 도로가 정체되어 있다. 코스트코 매장 방문을 희망하는 이들은 안전을 위해 혼잡시간대 방문을 피하고 소비에 있어 이성적인 태도를 유지하기를 바란다”라고 안내했다.
현지 경찰 공식 웨이보 ⓒWeibo/警民直通车-闵行 첫날 예정된 폐점 시간보다 한참 이른 오후 1시에 문을 닫자 코스트코는 이를 해결할 방책을 고안했다. 매장 내 2천 명 이상 출입할 수 없도록 정원에 제한을 두는 것이다.
코스트코는 메신저 위챗 을 통해 28일부터 ”고객의 안전과 긍정적인 쇼핑 경험을 위해” 매장 입장 인원을 2천 명으로 제한한다고 고지했다. 그러면서 ”최대 수용 정원에 가까워지거나 대기 시간이 길어질 경우 공지할 테니 방문 전 메시지를 확인해 달라”라고도 알렸다.
중국 매장 역시 전 세계 여느 코스트코 매장과 같이 회원제로 운영된다. 연간 회원권은 299위안(5만원)으로, 미국 (60달러, 7만2천원)보다는 저렴하고 한국 (3만8천5백원)보다는 비싸다. 코스트코는 5년 전부터 온라인 매장을 운영해왔으나 오프라인 매장을 연 건 이번이 처음이다.
김태우 에디터: taewoo.kim@huffpost.kr