China mall offers 'man pod' havens for husbands wary of shopping

By Xihao Jiang

 

 

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - At a Shanghai mall, rows of "man pods" equipped with video games are proving a big hit, providing a refuge for hundreds of weary husbands and boyfriends as their other halves shop until they drop.

 

The first pods were launched at the Global Harbor shopping mall in Shanghai in June, and since then over 1,000 men have used the facilities, according to Ruwo Smart Technology, the company behind the scheme.

 

"Man pod" users can recline in a chair with a large screen and play video games while enclosed behind clear glass walls that shut out the bustle of other shoppers.

 

"I think this idea is pretty good because nowadays many boys like me are not willing to go shopping with their girlfriends," said Yao Lei, a 26-year old man using one of the new booths on Saturday.

 

With retail spending increasing another 10 percent in the second quarter of 2017, there could be huge demand for such facilities and the firm said it plans to expand the service to other shopping malls in the future.

 

"We found in most malls men and women go shopping together but men cannot accept spending a long time shopping," said Zhao Wei, an operator of one of the pods.

 

"Sometimes they'll even start having arguments. So we think in this situation, we can have a product that gives a man something to do and the girls can go shopping at ease."

 

(Reporting by Xihao Jiang; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-7-31

Genius.... Nuff said

With daughters, wife, a yackatty maid, dogs and chickens, I want one for the home.

 

T

                                  Years ago, I read of a German mall which had a large room for husbands, complete with beer bar, newspapers, and board games, etc.  ...for the same reason.  Wife would drop husband off (because he's such a drag to be with while she's shopping).  Each man got a name tag upon entering.  I pictured a wife coming back to claim her husband, but instead using another man's name,  Gunther instead of Hans, for example, ....and then taking the new 'husband' home with her.   It would make life a lot more interesting, and probably a lot more fun for all involved.

    Quite right too!

Yeah, but. . .

 

Why do these poor saps allow themselves to be dragged round  shops, stores and supermarkets in the first place? 

 

A woman in shopping mode wants her male partner with her around for only two purposes I can think of - as a mobile ATM/walking wallet or as a beast of burden to carry all the cr-p she is inclined to squander money on.

 

What better reasons are there for a husband or boyfriend to make an excuse to stay home, sink into an easy chair with a cold beer and watch the sort of video that us guys thankful we run on testosterone rather than estrogen?

Edited August 1, 20178 yr by Krataiboy

37 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Yeah, but. . .

 

Why do these poor saps allow themselves to be dragged round  shops, stores and supermarkets in the first place? 

 

A woman in shopping mode wants her male partner with her around for only two purposes I can think of - as a mobile ATM/walking wallet or as a beast of burden to carry all the cr-p she is inclined to squander money on.

 

What better reasons are there for a husband or boyfriend to make an excuse to stay home, sink into an easy chair with a cold beer and watch the sort of video that us guys thankful we run on testosterone rather than estrogen?

 

I cannot speak for the kinds of women you know. 

 

Mrs T wants me around because I'm her arm candy.

My daughters want me around as financial advisor: "How much should I spend on a purse, pops?"

"Nothing," I reply sagely, after consulting a complex spreadsheet.

 

T