Tmall Introduces Imported Product Flash Sales Platform
Sina Tech, 7/09/14
Tmall International (Tmall.hk), the international products site of Alibaba Group's B2C e-commerce site Tmall, has announced the launch of a "Worldwide Flash Sales" platform, featuring "flash sales" and "overseas products" channels. Tmall International has reached partnerships with 6 cross-border e-commerce zones in China, allowing international merchants to join the platform.
The cities of Ningbo, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, and Guangzhou began establishment of trial cross-border e-commerce zones last year, and Tmall International has partnered with overseas merchants to ship goods to these trial zones. After merchandise reaches China, it will be stored in duty-free warehouses within the cross-border e-commerce trade zones. Once overseas merchants sell products to Chinese consumers through flash sales, the goods are shipped to customers, with the merchants required to pay a low customs tax on incoming parcels.
Under the program, Tmall International charges participating flash sales merchants a logistics fee of RMB 8 for every order processed in the duty free zone. Alibaba's Cainiao smart logistics subsidiary handles all logistics, including sorting, delivery, and customs clearance.
The service offers 80% cheaper logistics fees than typical overseas purchases made in China.
Keywords: e-commerce Internet B2C Alibaba Group Tmall flash sales logistics