Money, morality, and mobility among Chinese surrogate shoppers in Denmark

Bibliographic Data

ID3837891
AuthorsMeina Jia Sandal (0000-0003-1813-5117, University of Copenhagen, corresponding author)
Year2025
Publication date2025-09-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChina Information (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0920-203X • E-ISSN: 1741-590X
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0920203x251368286
OpenAlexW4414286347
LanguageEN
References cited37

The practice of daigou (代购, literally meaning buying on behalf of) is a transnational, network-based, and largely feminized form of surrogate shopping that connects Chinese consumers with overseas buyers for items ranging from everyday necessities to luxury goods. This practice has developed into a significant grey market due to years of insufficient regulation. Despite ongoing legal debates, daigou remains a favoured business among Chinese immigrants. Drawing on 10 months of ethnographic fieldwork in Denmark and China, this article analyses how daigou operators navigate the complexities of relational dilemmas on both horizontal and vertical dimensions, while managing this informal business. Reflecting on the theoretical discussion on the interplay between money and morality, the article argues that this business practice not only offers daigou operators considerable financial benefits but also enables them to fulfil certain moral obligations under the framework of relational morality

China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance · Global trade, sustainability, and social impact · Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy