Chapter 759 Marching into North China! Two thousand yuan to unclog a sewer? That's robbery! Neighborhood repairs online!
On December 5th, Orange Supermarket officially entered the North China market.
To this end, Byron and Hou Yi spent two months traveling from city to city, specifically visiting the heads of the central government departments in each region.
There's an old saying that goes, "Don't open a supermarket if you don't have connections," and that's actually quite true.
The supermarket industry has a unique characteristic: each region has its own leading local brands, and tax revenue is directly linked to local regulations.
Even with the strong backing of the Senlian Group, no one will openly cause trouble for us if we rashly enter the market, but there will definitely be many obstacles behind the scenes.
Despite being a native of the United States, Byron was no less adept at navigating social interactions than the locals.
Therefore, it was only after coordinating the interests of all parties that Byron finalized the locations of 61 supermarkets in Beijing, Tianjin, and Longcheng, which was quite a big step.
But he had no choice; the big boss was pushing him hard, always complaining that he was opening the store too slowly.
After all, the business model and profit logic are now working, so there's really no need to expand slowly anymore.
Because of the generous benefits offered by Orange Supermarket, whenever Orange Construction puts up a construction sign at a store that is about to be renovated, local migrant workers immediately swarm around to inquire about recruitment, fearing that if they are too slow, they will miss the job opportunity.
Whenever this happens, the staff at Orange Construction will patiently explain: Recruitment is divided into online and offline parts, with half of the people recruited through each channel.
This arrangement was made because only accepting online recruitment is unfair to job seekers in their thirties and forties who are not good at computer operation.
Recruiting only offline would be unfair to young people who are used to getting information online.
at the same time.
The competition between Uber China and Kuaidi Dache is becoming increasingly fierce, but both sides are extremely restrained. For marketing activities targeting existing users, they have always maintained a strategy of issuing only one 12-yuan no-minimum-spend coupon per week.
The reason is simple: after several rounds of confrontation, Ma Liyun gradually realized that simply throwing money at the problem was meaningless.
While spending money can expand market size, maintaining market share remains a challenge.
Just like Taodian, which invested nearly 6 billion yuan in cash and finally achieved an average daily order volume of 20 million, it soon discovered that the order loss rate was alarmingly high.
This shows that Taodiandian has not yet mastered the "internal skills" of user retention and merchant maintenance. After a brief comparison, users turned back to Kuaipao Waimai.
For this reason, when collaborating with Uber, Ma Liyun specifically developed a mature solution, which boils down to two key points:
Steady and reliable progress!
Never be greedy for quick success or act rashly!
On the other side.
OrangePay, Zhifubao, and WeChat Pay are also locked in fierce competition offline.
Among them, the WeChat Pay sales team knew that Pony and Sen had a good relationship and could get along peacefully, but when it came to Zhifubao, their offensive was much more aggressive.
WeChat Pay launched a "Shake after payment to win instant discounts or free orders" campaign ahead of the Double Twelve shopping festival, which led to a surge in active users.
Not to be outdone, Zhifubao also launched a similar "check-in to receive red envelopes" campaign, attempting to seize the offline payment scenario.
However, users soon discovered that opening Zhifubao was prone to lag, while WeChat Pay and Orange Pay never had this problem.
This resulted in the promotion of Zhifubao not being very effective; once the subsidies stopped, the positive sentiment vanished.
Imagine this scenario: at 8:45 a.m., with only 15 minutes left before you have to go to work, you are queuing at the subway entrance to buy steamed buns and soy milk.
Trying to save a few cents by paying with Zhifubao resulted in the page lagging for ages, with people behind you constantly urging you on, and the shop owner looking impatient. Nobody wants to go through this embarrassing experience repeatedly.
What's even more interesting is that most users didn't realize that the lag was a problem with the app; instead, they thought it was because their phones were outdated and had too little memory.
As a result, Orange Mobile's monthly shipments actually increased by several percentage points.
That afternoon, Apple listed the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models equipped with the Tiangong A200 processor for the first time on its official website's sales link.
The news shocked Apple users both at home and abroad.
It's worth noting that the last time Apple used products from other chip companies was back in the iPhone 3GS era.
Clearly, after comparing the performance differences between his own A8 chip and the Tiangong A200, Cook ultimately decided to launch some models equipped with the Tiangong A200 processor.
A key factor that prompted him to make this decision was data from a third-party research firm, which showed that Orange Technology's mobile phone shipments had surpassed Apple's, with total sales in the mid-to-high-end market alone reaching 100 million units.
Cook is well aware that if changes are not made, by 2015, Apple's revenue could be surpassed by Orange Technology.
Thinking of this, he immediately took out his phone and dialed Chen Yansen's number.
Despite the powerful performance of the Tiangong A200, its compatibility with Apple's operating system is not high. He wanted to provide the corresponding chip core architecture and specifications so that Tiangong Technology could customize a dedicated processor for Apple.
Of course, the development of the next generation of Apple's A-series chips will also proceed simultaneously.
Cook's idea is clear: only by actively introducing external competition and pressure can the R&D center be forced to come up with more advanced processors.
Otherwise, the team can easily lose its drive and stagnate in its technological development.
...
...
On the outer ring road of Shanghai, in a resettlement community.
Because it is located next to Guanglan Road and close to Zhangjiang Software Park, it has become the first choice for many young people to rent a house.
Unit 3, Room 401.
Standing at the kitchen doorway, Zhang Rui asked incredulously, "How much did you say?"
The plumber, who was squatting by the sink tidying up his tools, said matter-of-factly, "The service fee is 80 yuan, and a bottle of drain cleaner is 380 yuan. I used two bottles for you, so it's 840 yuan in total."
"380 yuan a bottle? You clearly said on the phone, '380 yuan plus an 80 yuan service fee, I guarantee I'll get it done,' how come now a bottle of drain cleaner costs 380 yuan?"
Zhang Rui's voice suddenly rose, and he was trembling with anger.
Moreover, the clogged drain in the kitchen is only draining a little faster than before; it's still very slow, clearly not completely cleared.
"What do you mean? Are you trying to renege on your debt?"
The master suddenly stood up, his tone harsh and his expression fierce as he questioned him.
"You didn't even handle the logistics properly, why should I pay you?"
Zhang Rui also lost her temper and retorted defiantly.
That's because you didn't use enough drain cleaner.
The doctor shrugged, looking like he'd said it before. He paused and then said, "I estimate that using two more bottles will make it even more effective."
Should we use two more bottles?
That's another 760 yuan!
Zhang Rui's face turned bright red. He never expected that such a small thing as unclogging a drain would cost nearly two thousand yuan.
How is this any different from robbery?
But 840 yuan has already been spent
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Zhang Rui's mind. Pointing to the bottle in his master's hand, he asked, "What brand is this drain cleaner?"
"Look, it's a big German brand, the quality is excellent."
The craftsman picked up an empty can and handed it to him.
The bottle was covered in German, and Zhang Rui couldn't understand a single word.
But he immediately remembered that Pinduoduo had recently updated its "photo recognition" function, and Pinduoduo International had products from 93 countries, so he might be able to find this product.
He quickly took out his phone, opened Pinduoduo, and activated the scan function.
The plumber standing nearby sneered inwardly. This drain cleaner was a cheap product he'd bought online; the outer packaging was a fake label he'd had custom-made, and the brand, ingredient list, and manufacturer information were all fabricated.
Want to compare prices?
dream!
In his line of work, he most enjoys taking advantage of white-collar workers like Zhang Rui who only know how to study.
Sure enough, Zhang Rui returned the empty can to him in less than two minutes.
No information can be found online!
"What do you mean? Should we pay now, or buy two more bottles of drain cleaner and continue?"
The master became increasingly emboldened and pressed on with further questions.
"No need! You didn't clear the blockage properly for me, I'll give you 200 yuan at most."
Zhang Rui was very clear-headed. He knew he had been scammed and refused to waste any more money.
"200? Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"
As the foreman spoke in a sarcastic tone, he pulled a wrench from his toolbox, fiddled with it in his hand, and glared fiercely at Zhang Rui.
He's very experienced; he usually scares office workers like Zhang Rui into handing over their money after a couple of scare words.
"It's 200. If you don't agree, I'll call the police and let the inspector settle the matter."
Zhang Rui gritted his teeth, refusing to budge an inch.
Seeing this, the driver knew that continuing the stalemate would be pointless, so he could only grumble and say, "Fine, fine! 200 it is, I guess I'm just unlucky!"
He then took out his phone and showed his payment QR code.
Zhang Rui knew very well that even if he did call the inspector, he would still have to pay some money, so there was no need to go through all that trouble.
He scanned the QR code and transferred 200 yuan.
After receiving the money, the craftsman immediately changed his tune, picked up his tool bag, hummed a little tune, and walked out of room 401 with a grin.
For him, 200 yuan is not a small amount.
Those two bottles of drain cleaner cost less than 5 yuan each; it's such a risk-free business, it's incredibly satisfying.
Instead of wasting time, it's better to hurry up and find the next "sucker".
The master's smug whistle echoed in the hallway, making Zhang Rui furious. But despite his anger, the problem still needed to be solved: the kitchen drain was clogged, preventing him from cooking.
Should we find another master craftsman?
What if it turns out to be another scam?
That person was someone he found on some amazing website.
He had previously called several plumbers, and the service fees ranged from 80 to 150 yuan, but none of them seemed very reliable.
Zhang Rui took his phone and sat down on the sofa. He opened Douyin (TikTok) to see if there were any other solutions.
He typed "What to do if the kitchen drain is clogged?" into the search bar, and after clicking search, a bunch of related videos immediately popped up on the page.
He randomly clicked on a few posts, and the comment section was full of people who shared the same plight.
"Damn it! The plumber I hired charged me 380 yuan for one bottle of drain cleaner, and it took six bottles to unclog it, but it got clogged again in just two days!"
"Me too! I don't know how to do it myself. I bought a drain cleaner from Taobao, but it's completely useless!"
"A bottle of drain cleaner only costs a few dollars, and he charged you 380? You actually paid him?"
"What can we do if we don't pay? We can't just keep blocking the road like this!"
"Mark this down, and I'll sell you health supplements when you get old."
Suddenly, a comment caught his eye: "Why don't you use Kuaipao Neighborhood Repair? It's a self-operated service, the service fee is 50 yuan and can be deducted from the repair fee, and they guarantee to unclog it properly."
Someone immediately followed up with, "Neighbors can fix it? Is that reliable?"
Neighbors repairing?
I've never heard of that!
Zhang Rui frowned slightly. There was no better solution at the moment, so he opened the KuaiPao APP and searched for "Neighborhood Repair".
A dedicated channel page actually popped up!
The page clearly states that "Neighborhood Repair" is a self-operated business of Kuaipao, and all repairmen have signed formal labor contracts with Kuaipao. Like the cleaners and nannies on the platform, they must undergo professional training before they can start working.
The on-site service fee is consistent with what Douyin users said, which is fifty yuan, and it can be deducted from the repair fee, with a promise to completely solve the problem.
Trusting Kuai Pao and Chen Yansen, Zhang Rui dialed the service hotline.
"Clogged drainpipe? No big deal! Depending on the severity of the blockage, the repair cost will be around 100 to 200 yuan. As long as it's not an external pipe that's clogged, I can fix it for you."
The neighbor's repairman answered the phone and readily agreed to take on the task.
"What if the outside pipes are blocked?"
Zhang Rui asked another question.
"If it's an outdoor pipe, you can contact the property management. They are obligated to repair it for free; it falls within their responsibility."
The master explained with a smile, without any ambiguity.
“Okay, I live in Unit 3, Room 401, Chuansha Community.”
Zhang Rui gave the address.
"Okay! Your neighborhood isn't far from our station. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
The master replied crisply and decisively.
After hanging up the phone, Zhang Rui browsed through the "Neighborhood Repair" channel page and found that the service's coverage was much wider than he had imagined.
From various installation needs to pipe dredging services and appliance and furniture repair, it covers almost all daily household needs:
Installation services: air conditioner installation, smart TV installation, toilet installation, bathroom cabinet installation, ceiling light installation, solid wood bed assembly;
Unclogging services: Unclogging drain pipes, toilets, and floor drains;
Repair services: Repairing range hoods, electric fans, and washing machines.
It's incredibly comprehensive; it seems to cover all kinds of everyday problems, big and small.
Not long after, there was a soft knock on the door.
Zhang Rui quickly got up, walked to the door, and opened it.
A man in his fifties stood outside the door, wearing an orange and gray work uniform with the words "Neighborhood Repair Service" prominently embroidered on his left chest.
"Hello, I am a staff member of the neighborhood repair shop. This is my work ID."
The man greeted Zhang Rui first, then took out his work ID and handed it to him for verification.
Zhu Qingguo, a mid-level engineer specializing in neighborhood plumbing and electrical repairs.
“Master Zhu, before you, I went to another plumber. He used two bottles of drain cleaner, but it didn’t work.”
Zhang Rui led Zhu Qingguo into the kitchen, talking as they walked.
"Did any foreign objects fall into the pipes?" Zhu Qingguo asked.
"Probably not. I guess it's because we had hot pot a few days ago, and there was too much beef tallow in the hot pot broth, which solidified and clogged the broth."
Zhang Rui thought for a moment and then said.
"Oh, that's not a big problem."
After Zhu Qingguo finished speaking, he squatted down and opened his oversized tool bag.
He first took out a retractable industrial endoscope, inserted it into the drain to check, and confirmed that the pipe was full of solidified grease and scale. Then he took out a high-pressure jetting machine.
After connecting the water pipe and starting the spray gun, a "plop plop plop" sound immediately came from the water pipe, just like a person who has been constipated for many years suddenly having a massive bowel movement.
After rinsing for a full three minutes, Zhu Qingguo turned off the machine and tested it.
The tap water gushed into the pipes through the drain, and the sewer was completely cleared.
Is that all?
Zhang Rui stared wide-eyed at the professional tools in Zhu Qingguo's hands, and then at how the problem had been solved in less than four minutes.
“This kind of grease blockage is a minor problem; you can pay me 100 yuan.”
Zhu Qingguo put away his tools and handed over a service confirmation form.
100 yuan?
It's cheaper than I expected!
Zhang Rui readily signed the papers, not only paying the final payment online but also giving Zhu Qingguo a five-star review.
Zhu Qingguo packed up his toolbox and gave Zhang Rui a few more instructions before leaving: "Next time you pour hot pot broth, remember to filter out the beef tallow first, and rinse it with some hot water so the pipes won't get clogged easily."
Zhang Rui nodded, watching the other person's retreating figure as they went downstairs, and couldn't help but add a "Holy crap" to his mind.
The repairman from this neighborhood looks professional and is very efficient.
In fact, the "Neighborhood Repair" service has only been online for three days.
Before its official launch, the platform arranged a three-month training period.
Currently, this business only covers first- and second-tier cities, and has recruited a total of 1,300 plumbing and electrical repairmen and home appliance repairmen.
However, the number of orders for "neighborhood repair" was exceptionally high, which was the main reason why Zhu Qingguo had to leave in a hurry after completing the repairs.
In the same neighborhood, he had two more ceiling light installation jobs waiting for him.
If things go smoothly, I can earn three or four hundred yuan by making a trip to the neighborhood like this. Although it's a bit busy, I feel at ease doing the work.
These past few days, his daily income has been no less than 1,500 yuan.
Just then, his phone rang as he went downstairs. It was a notification from the platform for a new order. He glanced at the address and saw that it was in the neighboring community.
The excellent repair service provided by Linli quickly spread on platforms such as Douyin, Xiaohongshu, Toutiao, and Kuaishou. As word-of-mouth spread, the business volume increased.
At the same time.
Gao Weilin led the M&A team from Senlian Capital and strode into the headquarters building of Luzhou Limin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
(End of this chapter)
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