(Yicai Global) Oct. 25 -- Zhongshan Bingo Network Technology Co. closed its first batch of unstaffed Bingo Box convenience stores in Shanghai. Bingo Box said that it faced great difficulties as the government has not introduced policies regarding such shops.

Bingo Box's two stores shut down at the end of last month, said Bingo Box founder Chen Zilin. The lack of clear regulation on box-shaped unstaffed convenience stores made it hard for Bingo Box to select locations, Chen said. Bingo Box is calling for policies and regulations to guide the site selection process, and is working with local governments and proprietors to resolve relevant problems, National Business Daily reported.

Bingo Box is cooperating with authorities to legalize unstaffed convenience stores. The group hopes that by obtaining the legal status granted by the government and by operating under policy regulation and protection, Bingo Box can develop in a more healthy and orderly manner. Bingo Box has signed an agreement with the Mentougou district government in Beijing, Chen said.

The market has two types of unstaffed convenience stores -- shop-style ones and box-shaped ones. The box-shaped variety are more favored because they are cheaper to operate and can be duplicated easily. Bingo Box is a typical box-shaped shop.

Both shop-style and box-shaped unstaffed convenience stores must comply with urban planning requirements, and authorities must only allow such stores to open in planned commercial areas, said Zhao Ping, director and researcher of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Academy.