The hourly fee increased from 1 yuan to 4 yuan, and the 24-hour cap price increased from 20 yuan to 40 yuan
Shared charging treasure quietly raises prices, users call "cannot afford it"
Shared power bank survey
As people's dependence on mobile phones increases, "electricity anxiety disorder" is becoming more and more common.
Now, many people become anxious when they see the "battery" in the upper right corner of the mobile phone screen turn red, and start to frantically search for the "life-saving straw"-a shared power bank.
It was precisely because of this demand that shared power banks entered the market at a low price and quickly gained a large number of users.
However, when consumers have developed a habit of using it, their use price has quietly risen, from 1 yuan per hour to 4 yuan at the beginning, and the 24-hour cap price has risen from 20 yuan to 40 yuan... Many consumers are calling out " I can't afford it".
Can consumers accept the increase in rental fees for shared power banks?
What economic laws are reflected behind the price increase?
With such a question, Huaxi Metropolis Daily and cover news reporters launched an investigation.
Visit
Prices have generally risen, some consumers buy power banks
After 11 noon on March 9, Ms. Zhang was scanning the QR code to rent a shared power bank in a shopping mall on Chunxi Road in Chengdu.
“Generally, I don’t carry a power bank with me. If the battery is low, I will rent one.” She said that as a loyal user of shared power banks, she discovered that the rental fee has risen early on. “Initially, the hourly fee was 1 yuan. It has risen to three or four yuan. The most expensive one I have used is 6 yuan/hour, which is indeed a bit expensive."
Ms. Zhang told reporters about her experience of renting a shared power bank twice on March 8.
When eating at noon that day, she rented a shared power bank at a price of 4 yuan per hour; when she went to the hospital in the afternoon, she rented one for another 6 yuan.
She said, "I rented a shared power bank twice, but didn't charge the battery."
Citizen Ms. Yang also found that the rental fee of shared charging treasures has increased.
After 1 o'clock at noon on the 9th, at the gate of Chengdu Second Hospital, she was charging her mobile phone with her own power bank.
"I used to rent a shared power bank almost every day. I bought one by myself because of the price increase." Ms. Yang said, "After the price increase, the rental fee per hour can be as low as three or four yuan, and the rent will cost more than five or six yuan. On average, I spend 6-10 yuan on renting a shared power bank every day. Once I forget to pay it back, I spend more money. And the power bank in my hand was only bought for 50 yuan."
survey
The same brand has different billing standards in different places
On March 9, the reporter visited the shopping malls, street shops and hospitals near Chunxi Road in Chengdu and found that the main brands of shared charging treasures in Chengdu include street power, monster charging, small power and Meituan, and the rental fee per hour is mostly three. Four yuan, the 24-hour cap price ranges from 20 yuan to 40 yuan.
When the shared power bank first entered the market, the rental fee was 1 yuan/hour, and the price increase was a common phenomenon.
The reporter also found that each brand has different billing standards in different places.
Take monster charging as an example. The rental fee in Chengdu Ito Yanghuatang is 4 yuan/hour, 28 yuan/24 hours; in Chengdu Chicony Plaza, the price is 3 yuan/hour, 30 yuan/24 hours.
Ms. Zhang’s payment records show that in Chengdu Raffles City, the 24-hour capped charge of monsters is as high as 40 yuan.
This has also been confirmed by the monster charging customer service.
Its customer service said that in different places, the charging standards of shared power banks will be different, and the price will be determined by the company and the shopping mall.
At the entrance of a shop near the Second Hospital of Chengdu, the rental fee for street electricity is 3 yuan/hour and 30 yuan/24 hours.
Observed
Shared products will go through the price increase stage and consumers will use it while complaining.
Sudden increase in prices after occupying the market at low prices seems to be a universal law of the development of shared products.
Take shared bicycles as an example. The starting price has increased from RMB 1 to RMB 1.5. Now it often costs two or three yuan to ride a bike.
Some netizens complained that "it is more expensive than taking a bus."
However, the prices of shared products continue to rise, and many consumers continue to use them.
Ms. Zhang told reporters that she often forgets to charge the power bank, and it is very heavy to carry with her. When the mobile phone is out of power when going out, she can only rent a shared power bank.
"In the future, I will try to choose the cheaper one, but no matter how expensive it is, I can use it," she said.
Although Ms. Yang bought a power bank, she still uses a shared power bank from time to time.
"I often lose the power bank and I don't know how many I bought." She said, "Now I have to pay with my mobile phone for meals and subway rides. If the battery level is less than 10%, I may not even be able to go home. At this time You must rent a power bank." But she also said that if the price rises too far, shared power banks may still be eliminated by young consumers.
West China Metropolis Daily-Cover News Correspondent Cao Fei
Intern Yang Yasha photo report