Some Group-Buying Deals Are Too Good to Be True, Watchdog Warns

Cheap goods sold on online grocery group-buying platforms often fail to meet basic standards, China’s consumer protection organization warned, in the latest regulatory shot over the bows of the fast-developing industry.

The warning on shoddy products comes after a mixed 2021 for community group-buying platforms (社区团购), with the business seeing strong growth but some companies bowing out amid fierce competition and tightening scrutiny over potentially anti-competitive behaviors by the biggest players.