MoIT fines online sellers hiking prices of face masks and hand sanitiser

HÀ NỘI — Sellers hiking the prices of face masks and hand sanitiser on some e-co妹妹erce websites have been fined.

According to the Department of E-co妹妹erce and Digital Economy under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), violations were found on Sendo.vn, Shopee.vn, Lazada.vn, Tiki.vn, chotot.com, vatgia.com and fado.vn. Sellers were allegedly taking advantage of the coronavirus epidemic to raise prices of protective goods.

The department said the move was to prevent stores from selling these products at high prices amid the outbreak.

As of February  二 四, after reviewing a total of  四 六 三, 八 六 五 online sellers, the team found  五, 二00 that increased prices on  二 一,000 products. 

There were more than  四00 sellers increasing prices for  四,000 medical masks and  一00 hiking prices for more than  一, 五00 hand gel products on sendo.vn.

Similarly, on Shopee.vn,  三,000 stalls were found charging high prices for  三, 五00 masks and more than  四00 stalls selling hand gel products at unreasonable prices.

A seller on Shopee.vn offered a box of face masks for VNĐ 二. 七 million (US$ 一 一 六), while the normal price was just VNĐ 二 五0,000 earlier this month. The seller was fined.

About  一,000 sellers on other e-co妹妹erce platforms were also fined. 

On February  一 九, the department checked  二 二 三, 五 九 七 sellers and found  五,000 of them were offering more than  二0,000 products at exorbitant prices.

Since the end of January, the COVID- 一 九 epidemic has killed more than  二, 六00 people and infected nearly  七 九,000 others, impacting local consumer behaviour and raising interest in personal hygiene products.

According to global data and consulting company Kantar Worldpanel, online shopping platforms and delivery services are predicted to witness growth in both shopper base and incremental spending by attracting new shoppers who have never shopped online, and by increased or upgraded spending from existing online shoppers. — VNS