"We Even Argue on Your Behalf"... China's Expanding 'Stand-in Economy'

Expansion of Daily Stand-In Services in China

From LEGO Assembly to Taking Out the Trash

Outsourcing Everyday Tasks to Save Time

A so-called “life stand-in” service, where people are paid to run daily errands or even care for parents on behalf of others, is spreading among China’s younger generation. The range of tasks people are willing to pay for includes cooking, accompanying someone to the hospital, taking out the trash, waiting in line at restaurants, and even arguing with others.

"Young Chinese Willingly Pay for Convenience"

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According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on October 4th, this so-called “stand-in economy” is taking root among young people in China. The outlet reported that these services are gaining popularity because busy consumers are increasingly lacking the time, patience, or expertise to handle daily work themselves, and are willing to pay extra for convenience.

In fact, on Chinese social networking services, posts about proxy services for handcrafted goods and assembly have amassed more than 120 million views. One of the most prominent examples is the LEGO assembly proxy service: customers who purchase complicated LEGO sets but do not have time to assemble them outsource the task to a specialist. Clients can invite the assembler to their homes or send the LEGO sets by delivery for assembly. The cost depends on the complexity of the set and the amount of work involved, typically ranging from 200 yuan (about 40,000 won) to 1,000 yuan (about 200,000 won).

The scope of these services is also expanding. In September, a man from Guangzhou attracted attention by promoting a paid “argument proxy” service. He charges 50 yuan (about 10,000 won) to argue online on behalf of a client, and 188 yuan (about 37,000 won) for unlimited offline arguments. He explains that his service is based on persuasion, not violence or threats, and that he does not accept requests involving intimidation, debt collection, or physical confrontation.

In Hangzhou, a woman named Mihan started a service to take out neighbors’ trash for them. She charges 3 yuan (about 600 won) per visit, or offers a monthly plan for 99 yuan (about 20,000 won). Within just three days of launching her service, she had attracted more than 20 customers, and later expanded into other offerings such as accepting package deliveries and caring for cats during holidays.

Other services have also emerged, such as standing in line at popular restaurants or preparing home-cooked meals. In Shenzhen, it is reported that one customer pays 2,500 yuan (about 500,000 won) per month to receive daily home-cooked meals. There are also proxy services to visit hospitalized patients to deliver gifts and greetings, and to visit elderly people for conversation and cooking—offering care and emotional support in place of the client.

Improved Time Efficiency, but Concerns About Fraud and Privacy

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Experts see the rise of these services as an extension of the so-called “lazy economy.” It describes a pattern of consumption in which people pay money to make more efficient use of their time.

Li Na, Associate Professor of the School of Finance and Economics at Jimei University, assessed that such services can improve individual efficiency and quality of life, while also creating new types of jobs.

However, problems remain. Since most transactions occur directly between individuals, there are concerns about potential fraud or privacy violations, and it may be difficult for customers to claim compensation if the service falls short of expectations.

Online commentators have offered a range of perspectives on the phenomenon. One commented, “If we can pay money to solve even the most trivial daily errands, are we gaining greater freedom, or are we quietly giving up part of our own experience of life?”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.