"May Day" travel, avoid these bad marketing "pits"
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 28 -
Question: "May Day" travel, avoid these bad marketing "pit"
Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Wenjun
"Merchants oversell", "Deposit and deposit"... "May 1st" holiday is coming, what "pits" should I avoid when traveling and spending?
On the 28th, the China Consumers Association released a special analysis of merchants’ unhealthy marketing practices to provide clear consumer advice.
[Oversold coupons are difficult to redeem] Some catering, hotel and other operators have low-priced and oversold group purchase coupons, package coupons, housing coupons and other funds withdrawn, but consumers have not clearly informed the oversold situation and restrictions on coupon use at the time of purchase.
Due to the fact that the number of redemption places reserved is very small, consumers cannot make an appointment for redemption after repeated attempts, and the operators have no corresponding compensation mechanism, which has caused dissatisfaction.
There are also some online merchants who deliberately oversell and then cut orders in the name of being out of stock, infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.
Consumers' Association Opinions: When selling goods and services, operators should adhere to the spirit of the contract, reasonably evaluate their own capabilities, and ensure that the contract is fulfilled and provided effectively, and should not oversell without legal basis.
For fuzzy conditions, anticipated breach of contract, and suspected consumption fraud, operators shall bear punitive compensation liabilities in accordance with the law.
[Confusion of deposit and deposit] The deposit has the nature of prepayment and can be refunded at any time.
The deposit is a legal concept. The "deposit principle" provides guarantees for the establishment of the contract and the performance of the contract, which binds both parties to the transaction. If the consumer breaches the contract, the operator may not refund the deposit, and the operator should double the deposit if he breaches the contract. .
Some operators deliberately confuse the deposit and the deposit, so that consumers think it is a deposit when they prepay, but what they actually write is a deposit, which causes damage to consumers' rights and interests.
Consumers Association Opinion: Operators should clearly inform consumers of any fees they charge and obtain their consent.
Regardless of whether the payment is a deposit or a deposit, the operator has the obligation to explain in advance, and it should be fully negotiated and determined with the consumer.
The contract should also clearly indicate the risks that may be brought about by paying the deposit.
The deposit cannot be used to deceive consumers to pay, but the deposit is written into the contract, requiring consumers to bear the penalty of the deposit.
Consumers should also pay attention to the difference between the two, carefully review the content of the contract, and sign the contract carefully.
[Confusing measures and tricks] Operators take improper measures to make the product insufficient; use shoddy products as good ones, and some falsely claim that they are genuine products, such as "handled products" and "defective products".
Consumers Association Opinion: If a business operator commits fraud in providing goods or services, he should increase compensation for the losses suffered by consumers in accordance with the requirements of consumers. The increased amount of compensation shall be three times the price of the consumer for purchasing the goods or the cost of receiving the service; increase the compensation If the amount is less than five hundred yuan, it is five hundred yuan.
If the law provides otherwise, follow those provisions.
[Brainwashing marketing to induce consumption] In industries such as health care products, beauty salons, fitness, insurance, education and training, photography and photography, and tourism, some operators attract consumers through free and low-cost experiences, and then provide consumers with experience in the process of experiencing services Carry out "brainwashing" propaganda and let them buy high-priced products or services.
Consumer Association Opinion: Brainwashing advertising and marketing not only harm the consumer experience, but also violate the good social customs, and operators should completely abandon it.
Consumers must be more vigilant about this, and in the face of ranting advertisements and repeated persuasion by operators, they must protect their sobriety and leave decisively and promptly to prevent accidental traps.
[Bargaining Jizan pull heads] Check-in to send courses, check-in cash back, collect free cash back, friends help bargaining and other marketing methods are widely used in catering, ticketing, education and training and other fields.
Some businesses induce consumers to forward links and pictures, use daily check-in, collect friends' likes, and invite friends to "bargain" and sell or give away products or services at low prices.
When consumers participate as required and meet the requirements of the event to redeem prizes, the operators refuse to redeem for various reasons, causing consumer disputes.
Consumer Association Opinion: The operator’s reposting, collecting likes and other activities are aimed at using consumers to help their marketing, so as to expand visibility, increase popularity, and attract passenger flow.
The operator's refusal to honor their promises, or even tampering with the rules, will only cause negative effects, lose popular support, and lose more than the gains.
Consumers should also cherish their social resources, pay attention to the protection of personal information, and do not tempt to "sell" relevant information at low prices.
[Blind box and other "probability" marketing exploits human weakness] Blind box economy, online game lottery, etc. stimulate consumers' desire to buy through probabilities and algorithms.
The scope of blind boxes continues to expand, covering various types such as toys, catering, air tickets, online games, and live animals.
Consumers' Association opinion: "Probability" marketing may encourage speculation, trap consumers, develop bad consumption concepts and consumption patterns, and have a great negative impact on minors.
Operators must not abuse the consumption big data they possess to secretly modify their chances of winning.
It is recommended that relevant departments pay close attention to such issues, speed up the improvement of relevant legislation, increase market supervision, and effectively regulate probability marketing.