独家调查｜大闸蟹的江湖：正宗阳澄湖并不多见，短斤少两、卡券虚标却常有

Core Insights - The crab card exchange for hairy crabs is facing issues of underweight and inflated prices, with some merchants using replacement strategies to appease customers, while the actual production of authentic Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs is limited, leading to a mixed market [1][3][11] Group 1: Weight and Pricing Issues - There have been numerous complaints regarding underweight hairy crabs, with reports of consumers receiving crabs weighing significantly less than advertised, with some cases showing a 30% weight deficit [3][4] - The price of crab cards is often inflated, with some cards priced at thousands of yuan while their actual cost is only a few hundred yuan, leading to significant profit margins for sellers [5][8] Group 2: Market Dynamics and Consumer Behavior - The crab card system is primarily used for gifting, which reduces the likelihood of consumers pursuing complaints, allowing merchants to handle issues amicably to avoid conflict [4][5] - The market for hairy crabs is experiencing a price drop due to increased production, with reports indicating a decrease of at least 10% compared to previous years [8][9] Group 3: Production and Quality - Despite an increase in overall production, the genuine Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs remain scarce, with many marketed as such actually being from other regions [11][13] - The production of Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs is projected to be around 10,350 tons for the year, with a significant portion of the market being supplied through direct sales rather than online platforms [12][13] Group 4: Regulatory and Market Response - Regulatory bodies have initiated measures to address the issues in the hairy crab market, including the removal of non-compliant merchants and products from platforms like Douyin [5][8] - The industry is moving towards quality-focused sales strategies, with an emphasis on premium products for both domestic and export markets [16][17]