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Text: West Sea
Edit|Wild Sand
In this era of rapid development of the Internet, information transparency is increasing, and consumers are becoming more sensitive to prices. Recently, a man's complaint caused an uproar on the Internet, and he was surprised to find that erythromycin ointment, which only costs 3.6 yuan on the e-commerce platform, has soared to 39 yuan in offline pharmacies! This price difference immediately sparked heated discussions among netizens, and the comment area fell instantly.
Let's go back to the starting point of the event first. The man easily placed an order on the e-commerce platform, and the erythromycin ointment of 3.6 yuan was cheap and good, thinking that it was just an ordinary shopping experience. However, when he walked into the offline pharmacy, the price of the same erythromycin ointment was 39 yuan, a difference of ten times! This huge drop is like falling from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the valley, which makes people stunned.
Netizens said: "Pharmacies also have to make money, that's true, but you have to have a degree to make money!" "This is simply a price assassin, and it is impossible to guard against!" Indeed, this price difference is like a "stab" in the heart of consumers.
Of course, some people also expressed their understanding: "Offline pharmacies have rent, labor and other costs, and it is understandable that the price is higher." Although this is true, the tenfold price difference is clearly beyond the scope of normal cost differences. It's like throwing a boulder on a calm lake, and the ripples are too big to ignore.
The market authority's response to this incident has sparked extensive discussion. They said that merchants have the right to set their own prices, as long as the prices are clearly marked and there is no fraud, it is legal. Although this kind of "free pricing" practice is common in the market economy, it has also brought a lot of trouble to consumers. Some netizens joked: "Isn't this forcing us to buy cheaper online goods?" ”
From another point of view, the high price of offline pharmacies also reflects its unique advantage - timeliness. When you need medication urgently, offline pharmacies are undoubtedly a faster choice. However, can this advantage justify the high price of the drug store? Netizens had a heated discussion about this.
"Who compares prices when they are in dire need of medicine?" Some netizens commented. Indeed, in the case of urgent need for medication, consumers may value the convenience and timeliness of purchase more than the price. But that doesn't mean pharmacies can take advantage of this to drive up prices.
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Digging deeper, we will find that behind this price difference is actually the competition between online and offline. With its advantages of low cost and high efficiency, online platforms can often provide more affordable prices; Offline pharmacies have irreplaceable value because of their timeliness and physical display. But in any case, price fairness and transparency are the top concerns of consumers.
Faced with this price difference, how can we, as consumers, respond? Some netizens put forward practical suggestions: "You can buy and reserve some essential medicines for families on the e-commerce platform in advance, so that you can not only enjoy low prices, but also ensure timely medication." "It's a sensible thing to do.
In general, the price incident of erythromycin ointment is not only a simple price dispute, but also a profound reflection on the protection of consumer rights and interests under the market economy. In this era of high transparency, we want to see a fairer and more transparent market price system, rather than this jaw-dropping price difference.
As consumers, we have the right and obligation to pay attention to prices, compare prices, and make informed consumer choices. As a business, we should think deeply: how to balance the relationship between price and service quality while pursuing profits? How to maintain your conscience and bottom line in the fierce market competition?
The erythromycin ointment price incident may be just the tip of the iceberg, but it undoubtedly reveals an important phenomenon for us: in the tide of market economy, consumers, merchants, and regulators are constantly groping and playing. What we can do is to remain vigilant, spend wisely, and look forward to a fairer and more transparent market environment.
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What do you think about this? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss! (Video source: Enjoy Pinghu, "E-commerce" Magazine, Jidao)