“分期商城”暗藏高息套现风险

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the emergence of "installment malls" as a new direction for several lending platforms following regulatory crackdowns on previous high-interest lending practices. However, it highlights significant price premiums in product pricing, leading to consumer costs that exceed market levels [3][4][5]. Group 1: Emergence of Installment Malls - Multiple lending platforms, including Xiaoxiang Youpin, Yangxiaomiao, Taoduoduo, and Luyouxuan, are shifting towards installment mall business models due to concentrated complaints [4]. - High-demand products like iPhones, gold, and Moutai are often priced significantly above market rates in these installment malls, with price differences reaching thousands of yuan [4][5]. - For instance, an iPhone 17 Pro priced at 17,000 yuan without installment costs 18,000 yuan with installment, while the same product costs only 14,000 yuan on mainstream e-commerce platforms [4]. Group 2: Pricing and Profit Margins - The article reveals that some platforms have high gross margins, with certain products showing gross margins exceeding 90% [3][4]. - Platforms like Xiaoxiang Youpin have introduced membership services that indirectly increase profits, with users often unaware of ongoing fees [5][6]. - The industry is focusing on compliance, with platforms aiming to align product pricing with market levels to avoid regulatory scrutiny [6]. Group 3: Hidden Recovery Chains - Despite claims of not engaging in recovery services, many platforms have formed hidden recovery chains, where third-party recovery agents contact consumers post-purchase to offer cash-out options [7][8]. - Users have reported receiving unsolicited offers to cash out their installment limits, often at steep discounts [8][9]. - This practice raises concerns about consumer privacy and the potential for facilitating cash-out transactions, which could lead to regulatory issues [8][9]. Group 4: Financial Performance and Growth - The financial data from companies like Quantitative Group indicates significant revenue growth after transitioning to consumer e-commerce, with revenues projected to rise from 4.75 billion yuan in 2022 to 9.93 billion yuan in 2024 [13]. - The gross margin for platforms like Yangxiaomiao has remained high, with figures reported at 88.1% in 2022 and expected to reach 97.5% by 2025 [15]. - The revenue from self-operated product sales and third-party store commissions contributes to the profitability of these platforms, with average commission rates between 1% and 5% [17]. Group 5: Regulatory Risks and Compliance - The article emphasizes the regulatory risks associated with high-price installment models, which could be classified as disguised lending if not properly managed [18][19]. - Recent judicial rulings have begun to challenge high-price installment practices, indicating a shift in legal perspectives on consumer protection [19]. - Industry insiders stress the importance of compliance design, including maintaining market-aligned pricing and separating sales from recovery roles to avoid regulatory pitfalls [20].