Violence common in unregulated industry
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The buck stops there
An Oriental Shopping Center property-management company staff member told the Global Times that following the murder, they have strengthened security.
"Without any power of enforcement, it's hard for our security guards to stop scalpers," he said.
"They can only try their best to maintain order in our shopping mall. We hope the local police might do something."
A Huangpu district police spokesman said they cooperated with shopping malls on a daily basis to maintain normal business order and would dispatch police if someone violated the Regulations on Administrative Penalties for Public Security.
"After this crime, we will further crack down on scalpers and make sure there's a quick response when we receive reports about scalpers," he said.
There are always about six or seven scalpers on the first and second floors of the shopping center, said an Oriental Shopping Center security guard, and the number triples during the sales season.
"It's common for scalpers to quarrel or even fight like gangs to seize territory," said the guard, who requested anonymity.
"A policeman cannot come until violence or a fight breaks out.
"It's easy for scalpers to then run away, pretending to be ordinary shoppers."
There's no law against scalpers, says Gao Ming, a partner at Shanghai Wanfang Law Firm.
"Although it's illegal, we have no laws or related bureaus to fully supervise," he said.
"Our legislation often lags behind new things."
Scalping is inevitable, said Gu Xiaoming, a professor of sociology at Fudan University.
"The scalpers help balance demand and supply on the market and boost consumption," he said.
"One way is for the government to include coupons in their financial supervision and have detailed regulations about them."
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