Egg yolk pastry chaos erupts again! Bu Er Fang stores see long queues, 'stool reservations' double scalper prices

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, a renowned bakery in Changhua City, Taiwan, is drawing immense crowds, with its "egg yolk pastry" sparking a frenzy. Bu Er Fang, famous for this delicacy, has seen its phone pre-orders completely filled, leaving only in-person purchases available. This has resulted in extensive queues, with customers employing creative tactics to secure their treats.

The scene outside the bakery is one of intense demand. To maintain order, the lines are divided into two: one for individual buyers and another for those purchasing on behalf of others, known as "代購" (daigou) or scalpers. Today, a "stool army" was observed, with people using chairs to reserve their places in line. Many braved the heat with hats and umbrellas, enduring long waits.

“

I thought I would give up and buy from a scalper, but the price is much higher than the store's price, so I had no choice but to queue under the scorching sun. It's too tiring, I won't do it again.

Scalpers are capitalizing on the demand, with the price of the pastries doubling. A box of six, originally priced at 300 New Taiwan dollars, is being resold online for 500 dollars. A 15-piece box, originally 750 dollars, has fetched prices as high as 1,400 dollars. This has led some customers to consider buying from scalpers, despite the inflated prices, to avoid the lengthy queues.

Some customers expressed their determination to wait, even after seeing the long lines, due to the significant price difference compared to scalpers. Others, like a woman from Kaohsiung who needed the pastries for a religious offering, found queuing more economical than buying from resellers. However, the sheer length of the wait has driven some to seek out scalpers, leading to a chaotic but bustling market on the street.

“

I bought egg yolk pastries to offer as a sacrifice. Scalpers are too expensive, queuing is more cost-effective.