Clothes do not make the man, or woman – but it seems like an upscale department store in Beijing did not get the memo.

SKP Beijing, one of the glitziest malls in the Chinese capital, is under fire amid accusations it is discriminating against food delivery drivers and barring them from entering its premises because of their uniform.

The controversy surfaced after a popular vlogger, Cao Dao, shared over the weekend with her 1.7 million followers on China's Twitter-like Weibo details of her many failed attempts to enter the shopping complex while wearing the distinctive yellow uniform of couriers working for delivery platform Meituan Dianping. Cao was trying her hand at delivering food as part of a video for her online channel.

"I have experienced the despair of being unable to enter the mall because of discrimination," she wrote in her post, describing her run-in with security guards at one of the entrances of the complex who would not let her in because of the uniform she had on.

SKP in a statement denied it unfairly treats delivery riders, saying it has designated a special entry for them in accordance with local anti-coronavirus measures.

Cao was on her way to pick up an order from a milk tea store inside the mall, which houses stores for such luxury brands as Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel, when she was stopped at the main gate.

"You can't go inside wearing this," the security staff tells her, suggesting she either change her outfit, cover it with a coat or take the staff entrance.

She heads for the back door, but to her surprise is refused entry for the same reason. There, the staff suggests she use an underground entrance, which is linked to a nearby subway station, to pick up the order. She concedes, but when she arrives there the delivery is still not ready. She tries to go inside but is not allowed.

"You can enter without the uniform," the staff tells her, adding that they would be fined for letting her inside dressed the way she is.

Her dilemma came to an end when a passerby volunteered to help Cao fetch the order.

Cao's experience prompted anger and outrage among social media users. The video has so far garnered 37 million views and over 120,000 shares. A hashtag mentioning SKP became one of the most trending topics on the platform.

"Is it legal to bar entry for those wearing food delivery's uniform? Wearing a uniform doesn't violate customers' rights, why can't they go inside?" one netizen asked.

SKP: No discrimination against any profession

The raucous caused by the clip led the shopping complex on Sunday to issue a statement saying it had designated a spot for delivery people to pick up and drop off packages during the outbreak, as per authorities' requirements.

The mall has two different entry points for customers and working personnel to "ensure a better shopping environment," but since the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, all couriers are not allowed inside the venue, SKP said.

Social media users slammed the ritzy mall for its discriminatory policy, although some opined that such a measure improves the shopping experience. 

"The pandemic has forced many shopping malls to adjust their food delivery procedures. But delivery people should be informed of such changes in a timely manner," a restaurant staff said, adding "shopping malls can do better."

SKP is one of the largest shopping centers in the Chinese capital and boasts outlets for around 800 luxury brands. In 2018, it was the "second most successful" luxury department store in the world, having made sales worth 13.5 billion yuan (1.9 billion U.S. dollars), second only to London's Harrods. Last year, the mall racked up 15.3 billion yuan (2.19 billion U.S. dollars) in sales.

China's three million delivery drivers are part and parcel of everyday life and the pillar of the country's booming e-commerce market, bringing everything from food to furniture to the doorsteps of consumers, come rain or shine, or pandemic. But their job is beset by grueling long hours, low pay and lack of safety nets.

(Cover image via VCG)