In Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, a delivery rider received an order from Huawei. After completing the delivery, the store informed him that the packaging was damaged, affecting potential resale, and demanded a compensation of 15,000 RMB. Ultimately, the rider was only compensated 3,000 RMB, sparking attention on social media.
According to a report by Zhejiang Radio and Television Group’s program “1818 Golden Eye,” on January 16, a rider named Mr. Li from a delivery platform took an order to deliver a tablet from a Huawei experience store in Hangzhou to another location.
When Mr. Li received the order, he found a red product in a white bag labeled “HUAWEI.” During the delivery, the outer packaging was discovered to be damaged by the store staff immediately after he left. They claimed that the flaw would affect the resale value and demanded a compensation of 15,000 RMB from Mr. Li.
Mr. Li stated that the damage did not occur during transportation, suggesting it might have been caused by the hooks on the delivery box used to carry drinks.
The platform froze 2,400 RMB in Mr. Li’s account and restricted his order-taking rights, requesting him to pay over 13,000 RMB to cover the rest. After negotiating with the store, the platform later agreed on a compensation of 2,000 RMB. However, on January 24, the platform directly deducted 3,000 RMB from his account.
Questioning the discrepancy, Mr. Li asked why 3,000 RMB was taken when the platform originally agreed on 2,000 RMB. The platform clarified that the additional 1,000 RMB was for the store’s compensation. Mr. Li then sought media assistance to clarify the situation from the store but was met with a response refusing interviews.
This incident quickly sparked discussions online.
A technology blogger and Weibo influencer, “Shuangye,” expressed, “I understand the fierce competition in the digital industry, but let’s talk about reason in this matter. Yes, the rider should take responsibility for the damage and compensate, but is it necessary to demand 15,000 RMB initially? Even if it was reduced to 3,000 RMB, was such a high compensation needed? For a minor plastic film damage, the store could have offered a discount to customers during the sale, mitigating the impact.”
“Allowing the rider to compensate 200 RMB would have been sufficient. They are all working-class individuals, so why make things so difficult for them.”
A senior journalist from Hong Kong’s “Wen Wei Po,” named “Kaire,” directly criticized, “The Huawei experience store in Hangzhou demanded 15,000 RMB for shipping a tablet with a delivery fee of 23.98. This kind of extortion for profits represents a lack of compassion.”
Video blogger and Weibo influencer “Yuan Guoqing” stated, “How much does this Huawei tablet cost? Demanding 15,000 RMB for a damaged outer packaging seems like pure extortion! As consumers, could we get a 3,000 RMB discount if we choose not to have the packaging for a Huawei tablet?”
Digital blogger and Weibo influencer “Shitou Gaoji” commented, “Compensation for damages is reasonable, but only if it impacts the product’s value. How is demanding 15,000 RMB justified for a slightly damaged film that hardly affects resale or the product inside? Moreover, online purchases usually have a seven-day return policy. The demand for such high compensation for a minor film damage seems unreasonable.”
A netizen named “Lishi Zhuanzhe Zhong De Xiaoban” mentioned, “As someone familiar with the industry, I can say that these protective films are common in all stores, easy to apply and only take about 3 minutes to seal properly with a heat gun.”