Chapter 528: No Big Problem
Autumn is rainy, and every autumn rain brings a chill. The fallen leaves on the street were not cleaned up in time, and finally got wet by the rain, making the scene bleak.
This is like the feeling that comes with group buying that is caught in a vortex of rumors.
Negative public opinion is like this, once it starts it is sometimes difficult to stop.
Competitors, capital, netizens, and various forces joined together, and the escalating turmoil was even more serious than if the boss of Tuanbao.com had actually run away.
The pace on the Internet has been so high that almost all the dead can be said to be alive.
Netizens are a group of rabble who are ignorant of the truth and who think they are smart and are easily led by those with ulterior motives.
So after just one day, the situation was no longer "the group buying suspected funding chain is broken", but "the group buying is about to run out of funding".
Once this idea becomes solidified, the group buying business will naturally take a sharp turn for the worse.
Problems occurred in every aspect, including cooperating stores, suppliers, and consumers.
"Manager Yao, we are all small businesses, so we need to be cautious. Please pay us the money first, and we can continue to cooperate."
At the Shanghai-Kyoto branch of the group buying website, a group of merchants on the positive review list stood in the office with helpless expressions on their faces.
Manager Yao, who was in charge of the branch business, couldn't help but sigh: "Boss Chen, Boss Yue, the things on the Internet are pure nonsense. Those netizens believed it, but how could you be fooled even though you are so smart?"
"We know that group buying has become so big not because of luck, but can't we make special arrangements during special times? Otherwise, we really don't dare to continue the cooperation."
"The settlement cycle is set by the company. I have no right to ask about it. So, everyone go back and calm down. If there is any news, I will inform you as soon as possible."
"Manager Yao, can't you advance the money for us first?"
Yao Shengdong raised his eyebrows: "I really want to, but I don't have the money!"
The merchants were all surprised: "You are such a big manager, don't you even have a few million? We all have it."
“Fuck…”
Seeing that Yao Shengdong was about to hit someone, the merchants looked at each other and left the branch one after another. Then they started to apply for closing time the next day and went to Volkswagen to open for business.
As a result, Dianping.com expanded instantly, and countless employees could not help but sigh in admiration for the wisdom of their boss Wu Bo.
When Pintuan and Alipay suddenly started joint marketing, coupled with the rapid expansion of the smartphone market, they swept the market in a blink of an eye and took control of the four first-tier cities.
At that time, Lashou.com left first, followed by Nuomi.com, and WoWotuan also began to mobilize funds and manpower to continuously expand into the market.
These three websites competed for market share while expanding to lower-tier cities, and even small counties in the seventh and eighth tiers were not spared and they were all developed.
Only Dianping has retained a business area in Kyoto even though it has been burning money.
As a result, with the storm of public opinion now coming, many businesses have returned to Dianping, and even consumers have flocked back. This is simply a flood of wealth that has fallen on their heads.
"I heard that Alibaba is pushing it. They are the second largest shareholder of Weibo..."
"Tencent is also involved. Their portal website now has news every day that group buying is going bankrupt."
"Didn't they have a good cooperation before? Alipay even conducted joint marketing with them."
"Cooperation is because we need each other, but if the group does not accept investment, then they are not of our kind and their hearts must be different..."
"Group buying is not wise at all. Why don't you accept investment? It would be fine as long as you are not controlled."
"How can we understand the boss's thinking..."
"The boss of the group buying company is only 21 years old. Does he have one more brain than me?"
"Anyway, public opinion is too powerful. I don't know how Pintuan will deal with it this time."
Online and offline, rumors about group buying spread wildly and vigorously. Even though the group buying company quickly issued a rumor-refuting announcement, it had little effect under the wave.
The customer service center was trying to appease consumers, while the field marketing department was trying to appease merchants. The entire online and offline environment was a mess.
In addition to Dianping, which has the advantage of being close to the water and getting the moon first, some other websites such as Lashou, Nuomi, and Wowotuan are also watching, hoping that once a whale falls, all things will come to life.
“It’s perfect timing.”
"Yes, if it was just pure rumor-mongering, it might not have achieved such an effect, but the example of Tuanbao.com is right in front of us, and it has completely ignited this fire."
Yang Xueyu and Chen Jiaxin sat opposite each other in the company cafeteria and talked about this matter during their lunch break.
They have been accepting merchants from group buying during this period of time. They seem a little tired, but there is no sign of unhappiness on their faces.
“I don’t know how the group will respond.”
"Group buying can't handle that." Chen Jiaxin gave an answer.
Yang Xueyu frowned slightly: "Jiang Qin is not an ordinary person."
"But have you ever thought about it? In all the previous incidents, Jiang Qin had to be prepared before he could deliver a thundering blow. But this time it was too sudden, and they didn't have time to make adequate preparations."
"this……"
Chen Jiaxin raised a finger and said, "One week. This public opinion only needs to last for one week, so that consumers dare not buy and merchants dare not sell. Then the group buying will completely collapse."
Yang Xueyu was silent for a moment: "A week goes by so quickly."
"Yeah, a week goes by quickly."
In fact, there are many people who think like Chen Jiaxin.
Jiang Qin has always been able to plan and win battles from afar. His long-term vision almost transcends the barrier of time, and the foreshadowing is very deep.
But this time the emergency came too quickly, and with the instigation of various capital forces, it is really difficult to turn the situation around.
Human power may be able to overcome nature, but how can it reverse public opinion?
At the same time, at Linchuan Airport, Jiang Qin and Dong Wenhao landed in the evening. As soon as they went out, they were blown by the cold wind under the autumn rain and wrapped their clothes tightly.
But what was a little heartwarming was that as soon as they left the airport, they saw Wei Lanlan, Tan Qing, Sunai, Lu Feiyu, Xu Yu and Lu Xuemei.
"Welcome back, boss."
Jiang Qin handed the suitcase to Lu Feiyu: "Why are you all back? It seems like something big happened."
"It's been trending on the Internet for a whole day, but it's not a big deal, boss. Now merchants are unwilling to cooperate with us, and consumers are desperately trying to return their coupons."
Tan Qing couldn't help but clench his fists: "Those shitty experts were obviously paid to speak nonsense, but so many people still believe them."
Jiang Qin waved his hand: "Tuanbao.com has cheated so many consumers and merchants that it has become a phenomenon that makes people afraid of the ropes for ten years after being bitten by a snake. This is normal."
"What should we do now?"
"Let's go back first. It's quite cold."
Jiang Qin waved his hand, signaling everyone to get in the car, and then he sat in the back seat of Wei Lanlan's white BMW.
"Boss, are we going back to headquarters?"
"Let's go back to 208. I feel more comfortable in 208."
Wei Lanlan nodded and drove the car onto the viaduct, while Lu Feiyu drove another car and followed closely behind.
Half an hour later, the car slowly drove into Linda under the autumn rain, then crossed the campus road and arrived at the gate of the entrepreneurship base.
The group got out of the car, walked through the empty corridor to the door of 208, then took out a key from under the foot mat of 207 and opened the door. Immediately, a damp smell of a door that had been closed for a long time filled the air.
It was a rainy day and the room was very dark. Lu Feiyu reached out his hand familiarly and turned on the light.
208 suddenly became brighter, and a familiar feeling suddenly came over me.
“It feels like I haven’t been back to Room 208 for a long time, but it doesn’t feel strange at all.”
"Yeah, I think we started from here."
Wei Lanlan responded to Tan Qing's words, her eyes full of nostalgia, and she reached out to pick up a hairband that was dropped when she moved away.
Sunai couldn't help but stroke his desk: "Our group sat here before, and worked diligently to create two national brands, Zhihu and Pintuan."
“I also devoted all my talents here.”
Jiang Qin turned around and looked at them, feeling numb: "What are you doing? Why are you suddenly reminiscing about the past? I feel like the group buying is going to go bankrupt."
Tan Qing couldn't help crying and said, "Boss, this is a serious problem."
"It's not that exaggerated."
"But all the merchants in Shanghai are asking for payment for goods. Some chain brands even require group purchasers to pay a deposit of 500,000 yuan, saying they will not continue to operate until they receive the deposit. The situation is similar in other cities."
Tan Qing described the current market situation in just a few words.
Xu Yu's face changed after hearing this: "We spent a lot of money to build community group buying and invest in Hengtong's supply chain. Although we are profitable now, we haven't recovered yet."
"In order to ensure the company's capital flow, we staggered the payment quarters for the four cities. But if they ask for payment all at once, our account will be very tight, not to mention the deposit or something."
“…”
After listening to Xu Yu's words, Tan Qing added: "In addition, consumers who used the group vouchers have been asking for a refund."
Jiang Qin nodded after listening: "Is the refund amount large?"
“Not much.”
Xu Yu picked up the data sheet in his hand and said, "Compared with the payment from the partner, it's a drop in the bucket."
Jiang Qin nodded: "Can public opinion be controlled?"
"I have tried, but I can't control it. The promoters are very powerful. They have invited many influential big Vs and experts. They have leaked information when they have it, and spread rumors when they don't. It has been going on and on. Now some people have said that you are related to the boss of Tuanbao.com."
Wei Lanlan pursed her lips and said, "The most important thing is that someone even set up a group to protect their rights, making it seem like we have gone bankrupt and constantly creating panic."
Dong Wenhao frowned after hearing this: "It's really organized, premeditated, and divided. They're afraid of leaving us a chance to turn the tables."
After everyone finished talking, they all turned their eyes to Jiang Qin.
"It's not a big problem, just take it one step at a time."
(End of this chapter)
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