Tmall.com to use mystery shoppers to fight fake products

In a spirited campaign to eliminate selling of fake products from its website, Tmall (tmall.com),China’s leading business-to-consumer (B2C) platform has recruited mystery shoppers.

The several hundred volunteers engaged in the campaign will purchase goods that have for some time been subject of frequent refunds and complaints after which they will deliver them to a third party or Tmall for inspection.

According to a statement from Tmall, the mystery shoppers were selected from online shoppers whose credibility is decent and are experienced.

The purchases that the volunteers will make under the scheme will be reimbursed and training will be offered, the statement added. Tmall will unpack the goods after receiving them from the volunteers, ostensibly to determine whether the packaging and the brands  meet industrial and national standards, after which they will be delivered to third parties for further tests to prove their authenticity.

Merchandisers whose products would be found below standard or fake will face punishment ranging from downgrading of their self’s credit rating, losing their deposits or even being barred from the site.

Tmall ran a massive promotion on Singles’ Day (Nov 11), and accusations emanating from that day’s sale of fake products are what triggered the campaign.

Tmall.com is the B2C marketplace for Taoboa, a business unit of Alibaba Group (HKG:1688).