Supermarket Mistakenly Labels Domestic Coffee as Korean

A Guangzhou resident bought several cans of Maxwell coffee from China Resources Vanguard’s Downtown Plaza civil defense store last November, believing them to be imported based solely on the in-store price tag that stated ‘Korea’ as the country of origin. He spent nearly 900 yuan on the purchase, intending to thank a friend who enjoys imported coffee—but the gift unraveled when his friend noticed the actual packaging said ‘Guangzhou.’

The coffee was falsely labeled as Korean in-store, but the actual product was manufactured in China. The key issue: the supermarket’s displayed origin label did not match the product packaging, leading to a dispute over compensation.

What the Customer Experienced

The customer, Mr. Li, visited the supermarket on November 28, 2023, after hearing a friend was fond of imported coffee. He selected several Maxwell coffee products, relying on the store’s shelf labels that indicated a Korean origin. “I’d never bought coffee before and didn’t know much about imports, so I trusted the label,” he said. He paid close to 900 yuan for the items.

Later that evening, when he presented the coffee to his friend, the friend immediately spotted that the product packaging clearly stated the origin as Guangzhou, China. The friend rejected the gift, and Mr. Li had to buy a different imported coffee from another store to make amends.

Attempts to Seek Compensation

Mr. Li returned to the supermarket to request compensation, but more than a month later, the issue remained unresolved. He made nearly 30 phone calls to the store, each time being asked to leave a contact number for a callback—none of which ever came. Visits to the store also failed to connect him with anyone able to address the matter.

Mr. Li argued that since the product itself was not defective, the responsibility lay with the supermarket for incorrectly labeling the origin. “The label and the actual product don’t match—that’s misleading consumers,” he said.

Supermarket Response

On January 15, reporters accompanied Mr. Li back to the store. A staff member, Mr. Su, explained that product information comes from the manufacturer, and the supermarket inputs data based on what the supplier provides. “We contacted the manufacturer, and they declined to offer any compensation. This product has been on sale for many years, and we can’t retrieve the original information. While we acknowledge our mistake in labeling, we can only offer a refund—not compensation,” Su said.

Despite the supermarket’s admission of a labeling error, they maintained that they would not provide the one-to-one compensation Mr. Li requested. Mr. Li has since filed a complaint with Wangguanzhuang Industrial and Commercial Office, and discussions are ongoing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the coffee actually imported?

No, the coffee was not imported. Although the in-store shelf label claimed it was from Korea, the actual product packaging clearly stated that it was manufactured in Guangzhou, China. The product was a Maxwell brand coffee sold domestically.

How much did the customer spend?

Mr. Li spent nearly 900 yuan on several cans of Maxwell coffee that were incorrectly labeled as being from Korea. He purchased them based on the origin information shown on the store shelf label.

Did the supermarket admit fault?

Yes, the supermarket acknowledged that there was a labeling error. Staff confirmed that the product information was provided by the manufacturer, and that the in-store system had incorrectly displayed the origin as Korea. They admitted their mistake in the labeling process.

What did the supermarket offer as a resolution?

The supermarket offered to process a refund for the incorrectly labeled product but refused to provide monetary compensation or a one-to-one replacement as requested by the customer. They cited the manufacturer’s refusal to compensate and the long-standing sale of the product as reasons.

What steps did the customer take after the refund offer?

Mr. Li rejected the refund-only offer and filed a formal complaint with the Wangguanzhuang Industrial and Commercial Office. He continues to seek appropriate compensation through official channels while the case is under further negotiation.

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