Summary of Key Events
The incident involving Yan, a merchant from Xi'an Saige Mall, resulted from a tragedy triggered by a fine of 11.456 million yuan imposed four years ago for "splitting orders to use coupons." Coupled with recent notices from the mall stating that the contract had expired and they were terminating the lease, multiple pressures led to this tragic outcome. The incident exposes the ambiguity in the mall's coupon policies, the power struggle between merchants and the mall (such as the method of fund collection), the unwritten rules of "splitting orders" under high performance pressure, and the conflicting narratives from both parties. An official investigation team has been established to investigate the matter.
I. The Truth Behind the Million-Yuan Fine: What Exactly Was the Offense?
Many people may wonder: Isn't it just splitting an order to use coupons? Why such a heavy penalty?
First, we need to understand Saige's rules: compliant order splitting vs. non-compliant splitting. For example, if you buy two items worth 1200 yuan each and split the purchase into two separate transactions using two "1200 - 300" coupons, this is allowed. However, if you force a 2400-yuan item to be split into two 1200-yuan orders to use coupons, that constitutes non-compliant splitting.
Saige's announcement states that Yan's company incurred a fine of 6.0672 million yuan during the mall's anniversary in 2020 for splitting coupons across four stores, resulting in a final penalty of 11.546 million yuan (which Saige claims was reduced, not the rumored tenfold amount). Yan's company acknowledged and paid the fine in writing in 2021. However, Yan's family members suggest that this past fine was the tipping point, with the recent notice of termination being the final straw. The contradiction here is whether the fine was truly resolved or if new disputes have arisen since then.
II. The Mall's Coupon Policy: A Benefit or a Trap?
Saige's intention behind issuing coupons is to attract customers by offering discounts: they invest real money (e.g., 420 million yuan in 2020) to encourage sales, and then the mall charges a percentage of the merchants' sales (typically 20%-30%) to cover the costs.
The problem lies in the fund collection method: all payments made using coupons are first deposited into the mall's account, with the mall and merchants settling the accounts later. Merchants often don't even know when they will receive their money, effectively having their funds held by the mall, which puts them under financial strain.
Additionally, the rigidity of the coupon rules can be problematic: for a 2400-yuan item, only one coupon can be used to reduce the price by 300 yuan. If customers want a larger discount, merchants may resort to splitting orders to meet sales targets, as failing to do so could mean losing their business.
III. The Merchants' Struggling Situation: Unwritten Rules Under Performance Pressure
Why do many merchants split orders? Due to extreme sales pressure. Saige employees mentioned that this is common with high-end brands on the upper floors of the mall. For instance, with brands like Nike and New Balance, which have prices ranging from several hundred to thousands of yuan, a single item might not meet the coupon requirement, forcing merchants to split orders to make a sale.
Although Yan's company was large (annual sales of 850 million yuan with 400 stores), the sports goods market has been sluggish in recent years, and other stores were losing money. Coupled with Saige's fines and the termination notice, their financial situation became critical. Even before falling, Yan was still trying to pay employees, indicating they were at a desperate stage.
IV. Conflicting Narratives: Where Does the Dispute Lie?
Saige's official statement and the family's account differ significantly:
- Saige claims that Yan attempted suicide in May 2026 and was saved; the company faced difficulties due to a poor market and heavy debt. They tried to communicate multiple times over the past month, but Yan's family said he suffered from depression and was not involved in business operations. They also mentioned discussions about mediation on June 30th with some progress.
- The family alleges that Yan faced financial difficulties due to the fine and was forced into a corner when they received the termination notice on June 30th.
Furthermore, Saige is involved in several lease litigation cases, with many merchants losing or withdrawing their lawsuits, indicating that conflicts between the mall and merchants are not new. This adds to public sympathy for the merchants.
V. The Truth Awaits: Can the Investigation Team Provide Answers?
A joint investigation team has been formed in Xi'an's Yanta District to clarify several key issues:
1. Was the fine calculated reasonably? Was the penalty truly paid in full back then?
2. Was the termination notice legal, or was it a deliberate act of harassment?
3. Is Saige's fund settlement method compliant? Has any money been misappropriated from merchants?
This tragedy is not an isolated incident; it highlights the power imbalance between the mall and merchants—the mall controls the rules and funds, leaving merchants with no choice but to comply. It is hoped that the investigation will uncover the truth and serve as a warning to other malls, preventing similar issues from happening.
(The entire text is explained in plain language to make it understandable to non-experts, covering the details of the incident and the underlying conflicts.)