Taiwanese media outlet China Times News reported on the 5th that a post by a Taiwanese person who went on a trip to Japan surprised even a 'Japan Travel Expert'.

According to the article, a Taiwanese user recently complained on SNS Threads about a certain famous Japanese drug store. According to the user, they tried to purchase the cold medicine 'Pabron' at a store in Shibuya, but a clerk aggressively recommended a similar original brand product.

When the user, after listening to the explanation, still tried to purchase 'Pabron' and brought an empty box to the register, the clerk reportedly switched it to an original brand product without permission when exchanging the empty box for the product with contents. When the user pointed this out, the clerk, without showing any surprise, simply said 'Oh...' returned the item to the shelf, and then took out 'Pabron'.

In response to this post, comments from others who had similar experiences poured in, including: 'I didn't pay close attention to the bagging (by the clerk), but when I checked after returning home, it contained a different product,' 'I've had products put into my basket without my permission. Since then, I've been scared to go to that store,' and 'When I tried to buy blueberry supplements at a store near Tenjin-Minami Station in Fukuoka, I was persistently recommended a more expensive alternative product.'

There was also an anecdote: 'When I tried to buy two bottles of Alinamin, I was told they would only sell me one, and then recommended that I could buy two if they were their private brand product. When I said, "My friend asked for this specifically, so I can't take anything else," they told me to "Call your friend right now to confirm," and I had difficulty checking out.'

Lin Shibi, a former doctor from Taiwan known as a 'Japan Travel Expert,' quoted the aforementioned Threads post and commented, 'I'm truly surprised. I've discussed clerks who aggressively upsell many times before, but I've never seen such a forceful case.' He advised, 'There are many drug stores in Japan, so there's no need to stick to a specific one. It's important to choose a trustworthy store and thoroughly check the contents at the time of purchase.'

He also brought up the good reputation of large discount stores, saying, 'Frankly, if a product is good, it should sell naturally, so pushing it so forcefully is strange. I have never once been strongly recommended a private brand product by a Don Quijote clerk.' (Translation/Editing by Kitada)