Temu accused of using dark patterns against shoppers

Takalot is basically bleating the same way Multichoice did when they got competition.
They've sat idle for the last 10+ years without any innovation and suddenly they're jumping around pointing fingers and doing their own version of Amazon Prime. Bunch of complacent, blind-eye turning management that I struggle to find any sympathy for.
 
They've sat idle for the last 10+ years without any innovation and suddenly they're jumping around pointing fingers and doing their own version of Amazon Prime. Bunch of complacent, blind-eye turning management that I struggle to find any sympathy for.
Exactly like Multichoice. It's the only page in a SA monopoly's playbook.
 
Remember when brick and mortar stores were attacking Takealot in the early days, when they were taking away business from the complacent retailers?
 
I just don't understand how they "exploited tax and customs loopholes". they have a company in south africa? no. you made an order from "china" (oversea), then they posted it to you, they charge you in rand because it will make the local people easier to read (understand), same as booking.com. sars charges the taxes when the parcel arrived (collect).

then, what's wrong? I really don't get it.
 
Who cares, still cheaper then any other place. Besides many businesses buy from them and re-sell it here at huge profits. Time local businesses start droping their prices or close down permanantly. Only reason I can think of why people still use shops here because they don't want to wait and easier to return things. But that is not good enough reason to pay 500% price increase on products.
Just look at those Barestep shoes. Those guys are making a killing reselling cheap junk you can buy from your Chinese dollar store, just good marketing.
 
Anti-China is a US thing.... China is our BRICS friend, surely? Were we not going to even have preferential trade tariffs between these friends?
 
Yes, just today I was looking at wedge pillows on Takealot (try to buy local first) and there is one with zero dimensions given at all, and all the reviews complaining about how small the wedge pillow is. How can Takealot allow listings without proper sizing dimensions? Their answer, it's the merchants' problem (but that becomes their customers' problem).

Temu at least has dimensions shown for products. Seriously, Takealot needs competition as it is particularly weak on product descriptions (or call that minimum quality requirements to merchants). I look too at US Amazon sizings for shoes and clothing, and it is super detailed and seems standardised for listings.
 
Temu's dark underbelly

Chinese online retail giant Temu is accused of using manipulative practices, including dark patterns, to trick consumers into spending more than they want.

Over the last few weeks, Temu has been under fire in South Africa about its alleged questionable activities, including dodging customs and other taxes.
How about an article on dark patterns? Temu/Takealot, politics/elections, electricity(eskom), new world order, clean energy (coal/solar/nuclear), wokeness ...
 
Many TaL items have non-existent details, making it impossible to compare similar products.
 
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Same ol same.... everytime a Chinese company starts to actually practise capitalism and showing consumers that they're being overcharged for the product, you get hit pieces, accusations and "investigations"....the word evil and dangerous starts being bandied about all over the media.

Every accusation they level at these Chinese companies are practised by the "traditional" retailers and service providers, but that's not seem as a problem....when "dark patterns" are used by US companies you never see a House representative making statements or calling for investigations.

Hypocrisy is the foundation of so called free marketeers.
 
I just don't understand how they "exploited tax and customs loopholes". they have a company in south africa? no. you made an order from "china" (oversea), then they posted it to you, they charge you in rand because it will make the local people easier to read (understand), same as booking.com. sars charges the taxes when the parcel arrived (collect).

then, what's wrong? I really don't get it.

It's sour grapes from people who prefer to believe sensational stories
 
How about an article on dark patterns? Temu/Takealot, politics/elections, electricity(eskom), new world order, clean energy (coal/solar/nuclear), wokeness ...
All these companies practice some level of dark patterns manipulation. From moving the yes/no buttons on different pages to artificial time pressure on the buyer.

It's only when Chinese companies do it, that it's a problem worthy of media and political attention.
 
Hilarious how they've never once (that I can recall) written an article about the 'dark underbelly' of takealot or even mentioned the bs artificial price inflation that sellers pull there but with temu it's just fear mongering nonsense all the time.

Temu must pay up for the articles to stop . Buy adverts, sponsor advertorials, whatever
 
Remember what happened to Afrihost when they stopped paying
 
I still don't know what Temu is. I'm just getting used to Ali Baba and Shein.
 
if you are stupid enough to fall for their advertising and games then so be it .

Wellllllll........ people do fall for Takealot, Makro, Amazon, Checkers, Pick n Pay, just to mention a few.... So, there is that.
 
Ali Baba you can get your clearing agent to divide the (always excel) chinese invoice / 10.

All you rookies complaining about customs problems will complain no more.

(True) jokes aside, TALs suppliers and their resellers are ALL doing this. Ironically TEMU is over charging IMO for customs.

What Temu is actually doing is dumping (below cost) + taking a loss of the local shipping but since there are no local manufacturers left they are SOL with that argument at the DTI. But that's first year economics, which the article author clearly didn't do or pass.
 
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