(ECNS) -- Customers are calling for online platforms to stop playing tricks over prices ahead of the upcoming "Double 11" shopping season.
Rising from a promotion by Alibaba's Tmall in 2009, the festivity has become an annual tradition in China featuring various sales by online shopping platforms, bulky trade volumes and piled-up delivery items.
After all these years, however, customers have become aware of the fact that platforms first hike, then lower prices during this period to make goods appear cheaper and encourage sales.
A shopper under the alias of "Liuliulielie" found that an online platform was selling an edible oil product at half price for two, with a discounted price of 38.4 yuan ($5.5) each, while the same product is sold at the full price of 39.9 yuan each on another platform.
"Liuliulielie" complained that such a promotion creates more of a drama than any real benefit.
Some other internet users commented that online operators have been wrongly focusing on the price war, which will eventually hurt customers and harm profits.
They have called for online operators to pay more attention to services and the quality of products.
