After the heavy rain in Putian, Fujian, "water-soaked shoes" were sold on the Internet. Industry associations and merchants responded that they were by no means a formal self-rescue for disasters.

In recent days, Putian, Fujian Province has experienced continuous heavy rainfall, waterlogging occurred in some areas, and some factories and warehouses were damaged by water. While the local area is stepping up its post-disaster recovery, a batch of low-priced products under the banner of "water-soaked shoes" have appeared on the Internet - 70 yuan for two pairs, with free shipping. Such prices have attracted the attention of many consumers.

Some merchants live broadcasted that their warehouses were flooded, and some people posted announcements in the group saying they were "reluctantly clearing out their warehouses." Relevant clearance information and product links spread rapidly on multiple platforms, triggering a large number of forwarding and discussions. Many netizens in the comment area reported their shoe sizes and said "I don't mind soaking in water, I'll pay for the postage" to express support for the disaster-stricken companies.

The kindness of netizens is touching. But do these so-called "water-soaked shoes" come from the Putian disaster-stricken factory? Does their quality meet sales requirements?

After Putian suffered a flood, accounts selling "Putian water-soaked shoes" popped up one after another on social platforms. Many short video platform accounts are publishing related videos, most of which are "A large number of shoes in the warehouse are soaked in water, and the owner has no choice but to sell them at a low price." An account called "Wanmeng Senior Studio" announced in the WeChat group: "The soaked shoes are without boxes, 70 yuan for 2 pairs. We will try our best to dry them, pick them up on site, and deliver them on site. No returns or exchanges."

However, there are still only a few people selling soaked shoes openly. The reporter found a local sneaker dealer in Putian through the Internet. He told reporters that this time his warehouse was flooded and more than 140 pairs of shoes were soaked. But the shoes have been given away and must not be sold.

Dealer: There are soaked shoes, but I don’t sell them. If you want them, I will give them to you. They were all sold out two days ago. After the shoes are soaked in water, the glue will easily age and fall off. When you take it back, you have to scrub it and expose it to high temperatures, which will affect the quality and after-sales service. Generally speaking, real local shoe factories will not sell water-soaked shoes, which will affect their reputation. The remaining goods will be returned directly to the factory, so there is no need to worry about losses.

The merchants affected by the disaster do not sell "water-soaked shoes", so where do the "water-soaked shoes" sold in batches online come from? Lin Wenchen, deputy secretary-general of the Fujian Shoe Industry Association, said that if you understand Putian's industrial logic, you will have the answer to this question.

Lin Wenchen: Putian is mainly an OEM, and brands place orders with him. Therefore, he does not have the authority to dispose of flooded or soaked shoes. This is an industry rule.

Lin Wenchen said that even if the factory does produce soaked shoes, there is a high probability that they will not reach domestic consumers. Because the platform does not allow this, consumers do not pay.

How many shoes were flooded in Putian? Are there really so many "water-soaked shoes" for sale? Yu Guomin, vice president of the Putian Shoe Industry Association and head of the unit, told reporters that the videos circulating on the Internet cannot represent the situation of the entire Putian shoe industry.

Yu Guomin: In fact, the damage to factories, enterprises, and industrial parks was not serious. Several independent brands in industry associations are relatively safe.

Taking a step back, can water-soaked shoes be sold? There is only one criterion for Yu Guomin's judgment, and that is whether it meets quality standards.

Simply put, it is to distinguish whether the shoes are "moist" or "soaked"? The former clearly informs consumers that it can still be sold, while the latter cannot enter the market at all.

Yu Guomin: In this high humidity situation, the shoes may get damp, but it does not affect the wear. I think this small part can enter the market and be bought and sold at a low price. I personally think this is also in line with market rules. But soaking is 100% impossible. The water contains a lot of residues and bacteria. All kinds of silt and impurities are mixed together and adhere to the shoes. The bacterial colonies exceed the standard. Shoes that have been soaked will definitely have their glue peeled off, it's just a matter of time. Generally speaking, shoes that have been soaked for more than 24 hours basically do not meet the conditions for listing. This is strictly not allowed.

From the industry consensus of local merchants that "the shoes will never be put on the shelves after being soaked in water and degummed" to the strict red line of the industry association that "OEMs have no right to sell privately and soaked shoes must not be circulated", the facts have been very clear: the so-called "large number of brand-name water-soaked shoes to save themselves at low prices" on the Internet are mostly merchants selling defective products, low-quality inventory or even wrong editions and counterfeit products under the guise of "disaster disaster". The love and goodwill of the public must not become bargaining chips for online scams.

Producer丨Li Xingjian

Reporters丨Ren Mengyan, Wan Cunling, Sun Xin

Voice of China, China Central Radio and Television