This app lets you seek public approval before making purchases
What's the story
Ahead of China's Double 11 shopping festival, a new app is making waves by encouraging shoppers to think twice before splurging. The viral WeChat mini-programme, dubbed 'Wallet, Please Wait,' lets users seek public approval before making purchases. The AI-assisted tool has already gained over 300,000 users and is part of a growing trend of mindful spending among Gen Z consumers.
App functionality
How does the tool work?
The free tool works like a corporate expense approval system.
Users submit a purchase request with details of the product, its price, why they want it, and whether cheaper alternatives are available.
They can then share the request with family and friends or put it up on a public forum called the 'plaza,' where other users vote to approve or reject the purchase.
User reactions
Responses range from financial advice to empathy
The responses on 'Wallet, Please Wait' range from practical financial advice to unexpected gestures of empathy.
For instance, a CNY 60 ($9) barbecue meal for an unemployed person living on savings was approved by strangers, with one voter reminding them not to be too harsh on themselves during a difficult phase.
However, not all requests get favorable responses, as seen in the case of an expensive iPhone where opinions were divided.
User adoption
Tool developed in just 8 days
The mini-programme's popularity has been nothing short of phenomenal.
According to China Business News Media, it crossed 10,000 users within nine hours of its launch.
It later attracted over 300,000 participants and generated around 370,000 purchase requests.
The tool was developed in just eight days by an AI-assisted Shanghai product manager who goes by the pseudonym 'Huoshan.'
Platform experience
Users appreciate platform's honesty and straightforwardness
Users have praised the platform for its honesty, with anonymous voters providing straightforward opinions.
A Shenzhen-based user named Xiaoxin told South China Morning Post that even writing down a purchase request creates a pause, helping people reconsider their needs.
Beyond financial advice, the platform has also fostered a playful community atmosphere where users exchange jokes, product recommendations, and candid reviews.