The recent incidents involving spicy and sour noodles, down jackets and sanitary napkins have not only shocked and enraged people. It is an inevitable outcome to calm down and think about it. In a highly competitive environment. It was only a matter of time before the bottom line of product quality was broken, but it felt like it happened much faster and more abruptly than expected.
Domestic e-commerce has entered a stage of traffic monopoly. The vast majority of the traffic has been divided up by several major platforms. The basic rules for traffic distribution include GMV algorithms, advertising and marketing, event recommendations, etc. In a word, only brands and stores that can bring revenue to the platform can gain traffic. Profit is the sole metric; everything else is completely disregarded. What about the cultivation of Chinese brands and the support for original brands? None of them are within the consideration of capital. All are driven by profit and pursue profit.
This leads to the situation where, in order to obtain GMV algorithm support, one has to sell more goods; to sell goods, one has to offer lower prices; to offer lower prices, one has to reduce costs; and to reduce costs, one may have to lower quality. Thus... There are incidents where spicy and sour noodles are not noodles and down jackets are not down.
Not only the e-commerce industry, but also brick-and-mortar stores, workers, students, almost everyone and every industry is in the race. The most terrifying thing is not to roll up but to roll down.
I envy the post-2000s generation. If they can't compete, let's not compete anymore. Just lie flat and enjoy a peaceful life.
Sadly, contemporary middle-aged people, with elderly parents to support and children to raise, are stuck in the gap of The Times. I can't roll up, can't lie down, can't stand up.
