Ministry: Louis Vuitton can operate for deliveries



The government has confirmed that luxury brand Louis Vuitton's (LV) outlet is allowed to operate during the total lockdown period.
However, it is not allowed to open for walk-in customers but can only provide delivery service, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry clarified.
"Nobody is allowed to walk into the store except delivery service (providers) to fetch the merchandise ordered by customers," the ministry said on its official Twitter account last night.
The ministry added that LV has an e-commerce platform and was allowed to operate under this category.


"Customers will browse for LV products online and place their orders online as well," it said.
"Please note that e-commerce, according to the National Security Council's standard operating procedure, is allowed to sell both essentials and non-essentials, since it supports the restricted movement of (the) public, except delivery service personnel."
The ministry was responding to a Twitter user who demanded an explanation on why the luxury brand's outlet in Star Hill Mall in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, could operate during the total lockdown, and if they are considered an "essential" product.
The LV e-commerce platform sells various luxury fashion items, including handbags, apparels, accessories and luggage. A handbag costs upwards of RM5,000.
'LV should deliver from its warehouse'
Meanwhile, responding to the ministry's explanation, Twitter users questioned why deliveries could not be handled by the warehouse and whether all shops, which also sell online, can operate from mall outlets.

"The store should operate from its warehouse and not from the mall as it is sending the wrong signal to people that the store can open and operate in the mall.
"People don't look at fine lines most of the time. In that case, a lot of shops in the mall can open and operate for e-commerce delivery," Twitter user Chris Daniel Wong said.
Other Twitter users also said that other e-commerce operators were still waiting for their approval letters.
The total lockdown, which commenced on June 1, has been extended to June 28 due to a growing number of Covid-19 infections.
E-commerce, for any products, is one of the 17 sectors allowed to operate during the lockdown.
Besides supermarkets, other retail outlets that can operate for walk-in customers include hardware stores, optical outlets and laundrettes.
Ministry: Louis Vuitton can operate for deliveries