More consumers turn to group buying for bulk sales amid rising prices
A single woman surnamed Kim in her late 20s said she is looking forward to meeting up with two of her “bulk shopping friends” every other Sunday.
“The first time I joined, I was nervous,” said Kim, a resident of Sejong. “I wasn’t sure if it would be awkward meeting strangers just to buy rolls of toilet paper. But now, I look forward to these trips.”
The remaining two are women surnamed Lee, who is in her 40s, and Park, who is in her 60s. They are all members of an online community called the “Costco Sharing Group.”
The community has over 800 members and is a part of a fast-growing trend where residents of the same area go shopping to share bulk purchases.
They meet, buy and divide a range of goods, including toilet paper, snacks, fresh fruit and cleaning supplies.
Lee said she no longer has to worry about finding space at home to keep the cheaper bulk-sized items after buying.
“Everything was cheaper, but too big and too many,” Lee said. “A five-liter detergent jug? That would last me more than a year.”
But now, when she sees a deal, she simply posts it on the group board: “Looking to split laundry detergent.” She usually finds two or three people to join her in less than an hour.
This trend is gaining traction, buoyed by the need to save living expenses amid rising inflation.
According to Karrot Market, an online second-hand item shopping platform, the number of newly formed “sharing groups” spiked 411 percent in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.
Source : https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/20250703/more-consumers-look-to-group-buying-for-bulk-sales-amid-rising-prices |
