Big moving companies quit Baidu
By Zha Minjie |
August 12, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SHANGHAI'S legal moving companies announced yesterday that they will quit the online business platform of Baidu.com, accusing it of promoting unlicensed moving firms.
More than 20 licensed companies said they will also stop advertising and paid links with Baidu.
After the pullout, all information about moving companies on Baidu would then belong to unlicensed firms, according to a joint statement issued yesterday by the industry association.
The Shanghai Traffic Law Enforcement team said there are at least 300 unlicensed companies that use the same names as licensed firms.
Last year, there were more than 730 complaints about fake business operators overcharging or even stealing goods from customers, officials said. Some unlicensed firms were found leaving the phone number of a licensed company to customers who intended to complain.
"The fakes make the money while the real companies take the blame," said the association's statement.
Earlier this year the city closed 35 websites related to unlicensed moving companies.
Many unauthorized companies have paid Baidu to promote their links and phone numbers, the legal companies claimed.
The industry association called on Baidu to stop selling links to unlicensed moving firms as it has largely damaged the reputation of approved firms.
Liu Weijun, vice general manager of Shanghai Gongxing House-moving and Logistic Co, said they sent a complaint letter in late July to Baidu. It demanded that all links to unlicensed companies be removed in three days.
"It's embarrassing when a customer complains and it turns out they were cheated by somebody else," Liu said.
A Baidu public relations official said she did not know about Gongxing's letter.
More than 20 licensed companies said they will also stop advertising and paid links with Baidu.
After the pullout, all information about moving companies on Baidu would then belong to unlicensed firms, according to a joint statement issued yesterday by the industry association.
The Shanghai Traffic Law Enforcement team said there are at least 300 unlicensed companies that use the same names as licensed firms.
Last year, there were more than 730 complaints about fake business operators overcharging or even stealing goods from customers, officials said. Some unlicensed firms were found leaving the phone number of a licensed company to customers who intended to complain.
"The fakes make the money while the real companies take the blame," said the association's statement.
Earlier this year the city closed 35 websites related to unlicensed moving companies.
Many unauthorized companies have paid Baidu to promote their links and phone numbers, the legal companies claimed.
The industry association called on Baidu to stop selling links to unlicensed moving firms as it has largely damaged the reputation of approved firms.
Liu Weijun, vice general manager of Shanghai Gongxing House-moving and Logistic Co, said they sent a complaint letter in late July to Baidu. It demanded that all links to unlicensed companies be removed in three days.
"It's embarrassing when a customer complains and it turns out they were cheated by somebody else," Liu said.
A Baidu public relations official said she did not know about Gongxing's letter.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
