Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-09-17 13:10Core Insights - American Express has established a significant business moat by defining high-spending consumer groups, suggesting a potential market opportunity for Chinese companies like Meituan and Alibaba to replicate this model with their premium membership programs [1][15] - The concept of a "Chinese version of the black card" is emerging, as Meituan and Alibaba introduce membership systems that reward higher spending with more benefits, targeting high-value users [1][15] Group 1: Membership Comparison - The membership systems of Alibaba and Meituan primarily focus on spending amounts, which may inadvertently include "flashy spenders" who do not represent long-term valuable customers [4][5] - American Express's black card holders are not only high spenders but also possess significant assets and social resources, indicating that spending alone may not equate to true high net worth [3][5] Group 2: Data Utilization - Alibaba and Meituan have the advantage of comprehensive consumer data across various sectors, allowing for a more accurate reflection of a consumer's spending ability compared to a single credit card statement [6] - The platforms can refine their member selection process over time through accumulated data, enhancing the precision of their high-value customer identification [6] Group 3: Merchant Relationships - Concerns exist regarding whether Alibaba and Meituan can achieve the same pricing power with merchants as American Express, given their existing relationships with millions of businesses [6][8] - The collaboration model between Alibaba/Meituan and merchants is likely to be voluntary, where merchants offer exclusive benefits in exchange for access to high-value customers, rather than being forced to pay high fees [9][8] Group 4: Market Dynamics - The sensitivity of domestic merchants to costs poses challenges for implementing a high-fee model similar to American Express, as seen in past resistance to increased delivery fees [8] - The membership systems of Alibaba and Meituan are not intended to replace existing loyalty programs from airlines or hotels but rather to act as connectors that enhance the value of those memberships [13][11] Group 5: Future Potential - The lack of a robust credit card ecosystem in China presents an opportunity for internet platforms to fill this gap, with the potential to create a significant commercial value of $200 billion if they can establish trust and loyalty across various consumer scenarios [15][1]