强制补贴、“二选一”、设置不合理规则……平台竞争不能“薅商户羊毛”

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the issues faced by merchants in the platform economy, including forced subsidies, unreasonable rules, and the impact on industry health and merchant rights [1][2][3] Merchant Complaints - Merchants report being forced to participate in subsidy programs without prior notice, leading to financial losses [2][3] - Specific examples include merchants being required to subsidize customer discounts, sometimes below cost, which can lead to a decline in product quality [2][3] - Instances of merchants being unknowingly enrolled in promotional activities have been documented, raising concerns about transparency [2][3] Platform Practices - Some platforms are accused of coercing merchants into exclusive agreements, limiting their ability to operate on multiple platforms, which may violate antitrust laws [3][4] - The presence of intermediaries and aggressive sales tactics by platform representatives can lead to unfair practices against merchants [4][5] Industry Regulations - Regulatory bodies have previously penalized platforms for monopolistic behaviors, yet issues persist, indicating a need for stricter enforcement [3][10] - Recent regulatory changes aim to prevent platforms from forcing merchants to sell below cost and to ensure fair competition [10][11] Flow Anxiety and Cost Pressures - Merchants experience "flow anxiety," feeling pressured to invest heavily in advertising and promotions to remain competitive, which can detract from product quality [7][9] - The reliance on paid promotions creates a cycle of increasing costs without guaranteed returns, leading to a detrimental impact on smaller merchants [7][9] Recommendations for Improvement - Experts suggest that platforms need to enhance rules and innovate regulations to create a healthier market environment for merchants [9][11] - Proposed measures include establishing better communication channels between platforms and merchants, as well as creating a fairer system for managing promotional activities [11]