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March 9, 2013

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Disappointed by a squeegee ...

China's leaders are just like the rest of us, it seems. The same problems, the same frustrations.

Chen Deming may be the minister of commerce, but his windows get dirty too.

At a press conference in Beijing yesterday, he said: "If anybody knows where I can get a decent window squeegee, let me know."

Chen was telling reporters of his disappointment at the poor quality of squeegees he had ordered online.

In addition to his defective squeegees, Chen also cited an experience familiar to many online shoppers - late delivery.

He wanted to buy a blackboard as a New Year gift for his three-year-old granddaughter. But the company responsible for shipping the item failed to deliver on time.

"Although I eventually received the blackboard, the joy of giving the gift to my granddaughter before the New Year had gone," Chen said.

In order to learn more about the industry, the minister told reporters that he frequently visited online shops and "made some unnecessary purchases," which drew complaints from his family.

But though Chen said he sometimes ended up with substandard products and clothes that didn't fit, his online shopping experience had generally gone well.

The minister is part of a rapidly expanding group of Chinese who are boosting the sector's revenue, which last year exceeded 1.1 trillion yuan (US$175 billion).

"My personal experience is not adequate in showing the industry's whole picture. That will require surveys with larger samples and analytical methods," he told reporters.

He said the government should accelerate the establishment of regulations and industry standards for e-commerce, as well as enhance related law enforcement capabilities.

Citing complaints lodged to China's foreign missions, Chen acknowledged the existence of cross-border e-commerce fraud and the difficulty of enforcing related laws.






 

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