Every year during the e-commerce festival,
many people, like the author,
find it hard to control their spending.
But after making a purchase, one might think,
“What did I buy this for?”
Especially when receiving the wrong item,
it leads to even more doubts about life.
In May of this year,
consumer Mr. Wang
purchased a mini computer host online.
To his surprise, he received a bag of sand.
Initially,
the customer service insisted there was no mistake.
However, they later changed their story,
claiming it was a mislabeling of the delivery.
Yet, when he requested a replacement,
he was informed
that due to chip shortages,
he would have to wait at least three months.
Reporter Guo Xiaojie from 1052 investigated:
In May, Mr. Wang purchased a mini computer host from the Tmall store of Shenzhen Hailuo Cloud Computing Co., Ltd. at a promotional price,
but upon receiving the package, he found it contained a bag of sand.
(Image from the internet)
After negotiating with the seller,
the seller suggested he
exchange for a different configuration product.
Mr. Wang demanded the seller
fulfill the order and provide compensation,
as well as a formal apology.
Subsequently, Mr. Wang also filed a complaint with the Consumer Council.
The provincial Consumer Council stated
that the seller’s actions constituted a breach of contract.
Provincial Consumer Council representative Ling Yuanchang stated: In this case, Hailuo Cloud entered into a purchase contract for the mini computer host with the consumer and promised to deliver according to the order, but instead sent a bag of sand. After promising to resend, they claimed the product was custom-made and could not be provided in a short time. Hailuo Cloud’s actions have constituted a breach of contract, and they should bear the corresponding liability.
After multiple communications and mediation,
the seller agreed to accept a return,
but could not meet the consumer’s
request for a formal apology.
The Consumer Council believes that the seller’s failure to inform the consumer
that the product was custom-made,
and later claiming that the custom product
would take at least three months to ship,
suggests potential fraud.
Provincial Consumer Council representative Ling Yuanchang stated: In this case, the seller is suspected of intentionally concealing the true nature of the product and enticing consumers to place orders with a promotional price. If further investigation confirms fraud, consumers may also request punitive damages.
Why did the consumer receive “sand” instead of a computer host?
Although the seller claims it was a mislabeling of the delivery,
logically, who would order sand from a computer company?
The provincial Consumer Council analysis suggests
the seller may be suspected of engaging in order brushing.
Based on past experiences, we analyze that the seller may be involved in order brushing, which violates Article 8 of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of our country, breaching legal regulations and undermining the principle of good faith in the market, damaging the authenticity of internet data, and harming the fair competition environment, which negatively impacts the credit system of internet platforms.
Ultimately,
the seller shipped the product as required
and apologized to the consumer.
The provincial Consumer Council also recommends
that internet platforms strengthen management,
improve credit evaluation systems,
and transaction monitoring mechanisms.
Once violations are discovered,
they should be dealt with strictly.
Relevant authorities should enhance supervision
and take effective measures
to legally combat “order brushing”
to create a fair competitive environment.
(Reporter: Guo Xiaojie)
