Spending-reward voucher redemption raises community concerns

Launched on March 24 and concluding on June 1, the “2025 Community Consumption Grand Prize” program has been drawing attention among local residents regarding the use of electronic vouchers.

Through various social media platforms and in-person interactions, many residents feel somewhat deceived by the system, as voucher redemption has proven to be less smooth than they expected.

At issue are the unexpected difficulties in redeeming the short-life vouchers earned through spending.

While it is known that vouchers earned during the weekdays can only be redeemed on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of the week in which they were earned, many residents complain that when shopping on the weekends, their vouchers remain on their smartphones until they expire.

The discounts they were supposed to receive did not materialize.

Questioned by the Times on this matter, the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) remarked that the vouchers are only redeemable “at designated participating merchants’ physical store locations,” adding that “large supermarket chains are ineligible to participate in this initiative.”

In many cases, residents had complained specifically about having shopped at local supermarkets, but the vouchers were not redeemed.

Still, although the DSEDT points to the “size” as a primary reason for the issue, residents find it strange that the vouchers can be redeemed in some supermarket chains but not in others, claiming that DSEDT is promoting unfair competition among establishments of the same kind.

Research conducted by the Times, with the assistance of several readers, revealed that vouchers could not be redeemed at branches of ParknShop Macau Ltd., Seng Cheong Supermarket, San Miu Supermarket, Sunsco, and Royal Supermarket.

However, they were available for redemption at other establishments, such as Vang Kei Supermarket branches.

According to the DSEDT’s reply to the Times, the complete list of establishments eligible for the program is available on the website (www.macaospendingrewards.com). However, an analysis of the same list did not find several establishments, including Vang Kei Supermarkets.

The list is also only available in Chinese, making it impossible for those who do not read Chinese to verify which establishments are participating in the program.

Another criticism of the program was related to the lack of clarity regarding which establishments are eligible.

While ParknShop Supermarket is not eligible, stores from the same group, such as Fortress, qualify for the discounts. The same applies to stores from the health and beauty retailer Mannings, which is part of the same group as San Miu Supermarket.

Other establishments that are eligible for discounts include the giant furniture retailer IKEA, the American multinational fast-food chain McDonald’s, and the local clothing and sports apparel retailer BE-1 Holdings Ltd., among many others.

Commenting on the program, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai stated last Saturday that the “2025 Community Consumption Grand Prize” program was highly successful, with results exceeding five times the initial expectations.

The CE noted this program as a great example of how the government used leverage and incentives to encourage consumers to expand their expenditures.

When it was first presented in late February this year, DSEDT director Yau Yun Wah noted that the 2024 campaign had generated approximately MOP1.1 billion in spending.

In April this year, the DSEDT announced that it had disqualified 131 people from participating in the ongoing campaign due to irregularities in their trading behavior.

Although the statement did not specify the irregularities committed, the DSEDT clarified that refunds for group purchases on any e-platforms, in exchange for the opportunity to enter the draw for e-vouchers in the program, are strictly prohibited.