2015年CRI Are Consumers Truly Benefiting from ＂Double Eleven＂?

 

Single's Day itself developed here in China in the mid-1990's as a sort of an anti-Valentine's Day, with young single people using November 11th, or 1-1-1-1 on a digital calendar, to treat themselves to gifts. 

But in 2009, Alibaba took the first step in turning it into, what has now become, the biggest shopping day of the year, not only in China, but the entire world. 

This year, it's expected over 100-million people will have made purchases from the nearly 30-thousand retailers¹ who are said to be taking part in this year's promotion². 

Once the dust settles, it's expected over 10-billion US dollars worth of sales will be made this year, easily eclipsing sales made during "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday" in the United States. 

"I like 'Double Eleven'. Everything is cheap on this day. This year, I'm only buying clothes. They are much cheaper online than they are in shopping malls. But the thing is, you've got to be careful on this day. You need to compare the prices offered in different shops, because some shops will raise prices first before they lower it on Single's Day." 

"I sincerely have nothing to buy on 'Double Eleven.' For me, the most important thing is the practicality of the products I buy. I don't want to turn my home into a storeroom. For sure, some prices are very low, hence the appeal. But buying products because they're cheap won't do me any good if I don't use them." 

Last year, and estimated 9.3-billion US dollars worth of sales were generated through Single's Day. 

The sheer volume of products being moved can sometimes prove overwhelming for retailers. 

"We have to enlarge our inventory³ and get ready for the annual 'Double Eleven'. And on this day, we have to stay up very late or even work until the next day. The turnover⁴ a few days before 'Double Eleven' is actually very low because people would rather wait to spend on this day to save money. In these two days, people who work in logistics and sales are all tired out." 

One issue which tends to crop up every year is the availability of products people want to buy. Zhao Ping with the Ministry⁵ of Commerce says they've found a growing number of retailers, particularly those selling products online, are simply using Single's Day as a way to promote their own site. 

"The 'Double Eleven' shopping spree is more complicated than it seems. Many online shops are involved in the promotion. But their supplies often don't meet the demand. Many people have found that the low-price products they've set their sights on are gone almost instantly. Many businesses use this trick to attract customers to their online shops, benefiting only a very small number of their customers." 

The Commerce Ministry is also warning consumers to be wary⁶ of certain 'bargains,' noting many retailers will begin increasing the prices of their products in advance of Single's Day to try to fool shoppers into thinking they're getting a good deal with the Single's Day price-cut. 

Despite the slowdown of the overall economy in China, some observers anticipate sales during this year's Single's Day promotion are likely to increase by around 15-percent compared with last year. 

For CRI, this is Li Jianhua.

1 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

2 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

3 inventory   

n.详细目录，存货清单

参考例句：

• Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。
• We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

4 turnover   

n.人员流动率，人事变动率；营业额，成交量

参考例句：

• The store greatly reduced the prices to make a quick turnover.这家商店实行大减价以迅速周转资金。
• Our turnover actually increased last year.去年我们的营业额竟然增加了。

5 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

6 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。