Unexpected outbreak of customer complaints

Shanghai's market watchdog received 1,279 complaints during the first three days of the Spring Festival holiday, a surge of 79 percent from the same period last year due to the pneumonia outbreak, authorities said on Sunday.

The top three areas drawing the ire of consumers are tourism services (331), catering and accommodation (255) and transportation (171), the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation said.

The three account for nearly 60 percent of all complaints.

Many disputes are triggered by cancellation or changes to arrangements, catering and accommodation, and public transportation services out of infection concerns.

A consumer who booked nianyefan (Chinese New Year's Eve dinner) at a local restaurant and paid 500 yuan (US$72) as deposit complained that his request to cancel the meal was rejected.

Another consumer said his request to cancel a trip to Sanya in Hainan Province was refused.

The administration said 49 complaints regarded medical commodities such as masks. Most were about price increases of masks, short supply and late delivery.