Fifty-six-year-old Tai Peng Electronics & Appliances announced in an advertisement yesterday that all its shops will cease operations by the end of this year.
A “50 percent off” sign has been posted on the shops’ storefronts, indicating that all items are now being sold at half price. A staff member confirmed over the phone to the Post that all four outlets will close for good once its inventory is sold.
According to an article published by Chinese-language Macao Daily News yesterday, the director of Tai Peng Electronics & Appliances, surnamed Ho, told the newspaper in an interview this week that the 80-year-old owner of the company decided to retire and shut down the business. Ho also said that the owners’ retirement was a personal decision and had little to do with the business environment. “I’ve been in this industry for too long and want to take a break to go look around for fun”, Ho quoted his boss as saying.
According to “Macau Oral History Books Shop Recalling Past: Oral History Macau”, edited by Lin Faqin and published in 2019, Tai Peng Electronics & Appliances opened its first shop, on Rua das Estalagens (草堆街), in 1969. At its inception, the shop was divided into two main sections: a retail department and a repair department. Operating with a modest team of just two or three employees, the business sourced most of its initial inventory from secondhand goods stores.
According to the book, quoting its founder Henry Chen (陳裕鏗), the key to Tai Peng’s ability to operate in Macau for over half a century lay in its core principle: “Ensuring customers shop with confidence and use our products with joy.” The company placed exceptional emphasis on after-sales service, implementing clear policies: if a customer was unsatisfied with a purchase within three days of the transaction, Tai Peng would provide a full refund. Additionally, if any product malfunctioned within seven days of purchase, the store would replace it with an identical item.
The book also quoted Chen as saying that competition in the home appliance industry was extremely fierce. He emphasised that the company had always stayed ahead of the curve by continuously updating its product offerings and introducing the latest models, which had been key to its sustained development over the years.
However, according to the book, Chen had a pessimistic view regarding the future development of his company. He said that the primary reasons included the scarcity of skilled appliance repair technicians, a lack of new employees into the industry, and a severe shortage of frontline sales staff.
Watched over by the police, scores of shoppers queued up for hours in front of the four shops yesterday, when the 50 percent discount sales began.
Watched over by the police, shoppers queue on the pavement opposite Tai Peng Electronics & Appliances flagship shop on Rua das Estalagens yesterday afternoon. – Photo: Maria Cheang Ut Meng
