Chapter 544: Who says you're a fake-buster? You're a consumer!

Event Name: Rightful claim for compensation is instead seen as greed; counter-purchasing one million!

Event Requirement: They made a mistake but are unwilling to take any responsibility, and even think a rightful claim is being crazy for money; use the method of counter-purchasing one million to teach the other party a lesson!

Current Event Progress: 0%

One million has arrived in the Virtual Account!

It was the same familiar interface and the same familiar event progress, but Zhou Yi's current feeling was very bad, because he had not the slightest clue as to how to complete this task.

He knew what to do for the counter-purchase of one million: buy one million worth of gold from their store.

However, the current Zhou Yi was no longer the novice he once was; he understood very well this kind of behavior of making a large purchase knowing full well there was a problem, and then seeking compensation.

This Afu was also a big brand; basically, it was impossible for them to sell fake goods, because doing so would be equivalent to smashing their own signboard.

Under such circumstances, for him to counter-purchase one million, wasn't this just giving money to others? Even if this money was provided by the system, he couldn't squander it like this...

There was no way, absolutely no way; subconsciously, Zhou Yi intended to call Fang Dazhuang.

Zhou Xinran, who was on the side, said a bit strangely: "Zhou Yi, what are you doing, spacing out here? Hurry up and file the Counterclaim so we can go back."

"Oh, I suddenly remembered a happy thing..."

The efficiency of the Court here in Lincheng was naturally not as good as in Jingzhou; the submitted materials were temporarily complete, and they were told to go back and wait for notification on whether the Case Filing would be approved.

The two drove home, and in the car, Zhou Yi couldn't help but say: "Xinran, do you know if there is any way I can make that Company pay a little more money?"

"Pay a little more?"

"Yes, pay a little more. Look at what she said; you know me, when have I ever sought these compensations truly for the money? So I can spend a little more money, one million is no problem."

Zhou Xinran nodded to show she understood; she should be the second person who understands Zhou Yi best now.

The person who understands him best is, of course, still Fang Dazhuang.

It's just that "paying a little more"—this matter was a bit difficult to handle.

"To pay a little more, you can only buy fake goods and then Return One Compensate Three, but they don't sell fake goods. Why don't you go ask Teacher Fang? I really don't know enough about consumer rights protection."

"Fine, asked for nothing."

Zhou Yi's words once again drew an eye-roll.

All the way home, Zhou Yi couldn't wait to dial Fang Dazhuang's phone number and explained his situation.

"Fang Dazhuang, I can really only count on you now. I really can't stand that remark of his; you tell me, what way do I have now to give him a good hit?"

Fang Dazhuang on the other end of the phone laughed upon hearing this: "Zhou Yi, why do I feel like you're even more perverse than me now? You have to be serious with the other party over a few words."

"But, isn't it a coincidence? I happen to be researching Legal Aid for consumers regarding internet marketing, so, you kid are in luck!"

Listening to Fang Dazhuang acting as if he had struck gold, Zhou Yi couldn't help but curl his lip; everyone is a thousand-year-old fox, what kind of ghost stories are you playing at?

Who doesn't know how many things are recorded in that notebook of yours, Fang Dazhuang? And "coincidence"—every time I ask you about something serious, it's always very coincidental...

However, Zhou Yi would definitely not say these words; if Fang Dazhuang says it's a coincidence, then it's a coincidence, even if this person had already had the idea half a year ago, it's still a coincidence!

"Although I haven't seen the marketing method of the gold brand you mentioned, I have studied many regulations regarding original prices and discounts on the internet, so I can tell you very responsibly: in this regard, every Company does it this way, and the one you mentioned definitely has this behavior too!"

"But, let's not talk about this on the phone. You and Xinran are in Lincheng, right? Wait for me, I'll be there today!"

Listening to the dial tone on the phone, Zhou Yi looked dazed. Zhou Xinran on the side asked: "What's going on? What did Teacher Fang say? Tell me quickly, is there a way?"

Zhou Yi quickly recovered his state, and a look of excitement appeared on his face: "Fang Dazhuang said he is very interested and is coming over today."

"Ah? Just for this matter, Fang Dazhuang is actually very interested?"

Zhou Xinran was also stunned.

She couldn't think of the reason; for a big shot like Fang Dazhuang, not to mention cases of sending people to prison, could there actually be a big problem in this kind of very ordinary consumer Legal Aid behavior?

But since Fang Dazhuang had such a reaction, it meant there must be a breakthrough!

The two waited for the rest of the time. Around the afternoon, the Court sent a notification saying their Counterclaim had been accepted for Case Filing.

There was nothing to say about this; for the current Zhou Yi, the Counterclaim or whatever was no longer important; what was important was what kind of method Fang Dazhuang would have!

Waiting until the evening, Fang Dazhuang arrived in Lincheng.

In the summer, the three of them would have barbecue and beer in Lincheng, but in the winter, that definitely wouldn't do; they had to have hot pot.

In the private room of the Shancheng Old Hot Pot, the three people ate heartily and drank extremely happily. Finally, Zhou Yi couldn't hold back.

"Fang Dazhuang, look, now that you're here, you have to tell us what we should do now. If this matter isn't resolved, I always feel uncomfortable."

Fang Dazhuang put down his chopsticks: "Don't be anxious, there is definitely a way."

Speaking of this, Fang Dazhuang looked at Zhou Xinran and said: "Xinran, you have been working on marriage and family cases recently, but I have a question I want to ask you: do you know about the behavior of Fictitious Original Price in Price Fraud?"

Zhou Xinran was busy eating there; hearing this, her cheeks puffed up like a steamed bun.

Fang Dazhuang was good at everything, except for this habit of asking questions anytime and anywhere, which was particularly bad!

Why ask questions? Just say whatever you have to say...

However, she still carefully recalled her knowledge base and finally remembered.

"Teacher Fang, as far as I know, the behavior of Fictitious Original Price should also be a type of Price Fraud, but currently, this kind of behavior doesn't seem to be strictly regulated..."

Zhou Xinran said.

Zhou Yi looked at the two and said: "So, what is Fictitious Original Price? Making up a fake price as the original price?"

Fang Dazhuang nodded and said: "Something like that. Actually, this is a very old method. Sellers will all claim their original price is such and such, and then give you a discount, making you feel like you've taken a big advantage."

"Isn't that what the Double Eleven that just passed was? If you really study it, you will find that while it's called a discount, there's actually not much of a discount at all; the problem lies in this original price!"

Fang Dazhuang explained it carefully, and Zhou Yi understood roughly.

Seriously speaking, many store tactics can actually be counted as Price Fraud, but big stores are more professional; the time between "rising first then falling" has already exceeded the time stipulated by law, so it's hard for you to seek Legal Aid.

"So Fang Dazhuang, do you mean we find evidence of the other party's Fictitious Original Price and then report them? Or what?" Zhou Yi asked quickly.

"If it's just reporting for a fine, it shouldn't be much, right? For a Company of that size, it doesn't count for anything."

Fang Dazhuang shook his head: "Reporting is definitely necessary, but do you think I ran all the way here just to let you report them?"

"Didn't you say before that you wanted to buy one million worth? Then buy it, then collect evidence, and apply for Return One Compensate Three on the grounds that the other party engaged in Price Fraud."

Zhou Yi nearly jumped up upon hearing this: "Lawyer Fang, that won't work, right? This is buying knowing it's fake; they definitely won't acknowledge it, and by then they'll say I'm a professional fake-buster!"

Lawyer Fang stood up and looked at the street outside the window: "Professional fake-busting, what is professional fake-busting? It requires clearly knowing that the other party is engaging in fraudulent behavior, and then intentionally purchasing a large amount to demand compensation."

"You don't know that they are engaging in price fraud; you are a normal consumer!"

But I do know... eh, that is indeed the case. Although Lawyer Fang has told him these things now, he truly doesn't know it.

"As for the reason, it's not anything else. I already looked on the way here; many online shops currently have a problem, and that is the strikethrough price."

What is a strikethrough price? It is something many of us often see when buying things online: a horizontal line drawn through a price, and then a new price written next to it.

Some will mark the original price, while others will not.

So, a problem arises here: will this so-called strikethrough price mislead consumers into thinking it is the original price?

The answer is yes.

"Think about it, Zhou Yi. When you buy things online and see this strikethrough price, you would definitely think it's the original price, right? In this situation, it would mislead you, and that is price fraud."

"And because many shops have this problem now, if you go to that 'A-Fu' shop to buy, they have no reason to say you came specifically for them."

This is a legal tactic, because you cannot directly determine a person's subjective intent, so you can only prove it through other evidence.

And a brilliant lawyer can use this method to prove that you were indeed "misled" by the other party's price and thus made the purchase.

To prove it is professional fake-busting, the proof often used is a record of multiple relevant litigations, and quite obviously, Zhou Mouren does not have that.

Or rather, the guys who sold him fake goods before are all inside treading the sewing machine now...

As for saying there is a lawsuit between us, so my buying your things counts as intentional—are you joking?

Your goods are good, and I like them, so what? Try using this reason to see if you can convince a judge.

"So now, there is only one problem that needs to be solved: how you spend this one million, or rather, how to spend this one million so that you look like a normal consumer."

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Yi quickly had an answer. He doesn't know about the legal side, but in this aspect, his experience is very rich.

"Lawyer Fang, it's almost the end of the year now, and our Tengda Company also needs to hold an annual meeting. Naturally, we have to have some lucky draws or something. We gave out a lot of benefits last year, and I think we need even more benefits this year."

"So I decided to pay out of my own pocket to buy these gold ornaments as benefits for the company's annual meeting. That is very normal, right?"

Even though they knew Zhou Yi never cared about costs when it came to being serious, Lawyer Fang and Zhou Xinran started clapping.

"You really... Zhou Yi, the luck value of the employees in your company has probably broken through one hundred," Lawyer Fang exclaimed.

At other companies' annual meetings, those big internet companies, the money they take out for prizes might be more.

But that is all the company's money, while here at Zhou Yi's, it is all paid out of his own pocket...

And it is very natural, because during last year's annual meeting, Zhou Yi also paid out of his own pocket, making the benefits very substantial, the kind that made employees of other companies envious.

So it is very reasonable to plan to give the employees some gold ornaments this year.

No one can say anything, because he really will distribute these purchased items to the employees, doing things in a down-to-earth way.

Just like a judge carrying a steel gavel, it is also very reasonable, right?

Zhou Yi smiled and said: "Sigh, small matter. I do this every year, it's normal to spend a bit. However, I plan to base it on the employees' situation and won't be limited to one million."

"Then there's no problem. Let's wait a bit; it's almost the end of the year now, and many companies will have a wave of promotions. Trust me, they will definitely be doing some discounts again by then."

Although these companies are all very rich, they are always doing benefits and discounts throughout the year, and those shopping anchors are always saying "pampering fans with big discounts," as if everything is for the sake of the consumers.

It seems like these companies and these anchors aren't making any money at all, and they are all great philanthropists.

But then, when you look at the end, damn, I believed their nonsense; they can pay back who knows how many 'small targets' in back taxes.

Zhou Yi was very happy; the system's task had a very reasonable way to be completed. Of course, he definitely couldn't explain the situation clearly in the video this time.

Even if the King of Heaven himself came, it would still be him, Zhou Yi, giving benefits to his employees, which is why he bought the gold; he absolutely knew nothing about anything beforehand.

They were all tricking me!

Strictly speaking, this is also fake-busting, but Zhou Yi doesn't think the act of fake-busting itself is a problem; the problem is always the people.

Otherwise, in this day and age where many things lack punitive damages, without fake-busters and relying solely on market regulation, many merchants would be even more unscrupulous.

There is no need to say much about the money issue; he has already communicated with the system. It's not that it must be one million... but a minimum of one million.

That's settled then; it's best to use the system grandson's task to provide benefits for the company.

The meal was eaten quite comfortably. After the meal, Lawyer Fang naturally went to stay at a hotel, just like Zhou Xinran, both near Zhou Yi's small residential district.

Zhou Xinran is still in the status of a friend, so naturally, it is impossible for her to live in Zhou Yi's home...

Waking up early the next morning, Zhou Yi made a phone call to Quan Longtian.

"Lao Quan, yes, you and Yin Dajie from the Personnel Department make a plan. We are still doing a lucky draw for this year's annual meeting. Yes, the old rules; I'll pay out of my own pocket, I'll provide the prizes. This time, I'm preparing to get some gold bracelets, gold necklaces, and things like that."

"I'm not crazy. Everyone has worked hard for a year, so what's wrong with giving out some benefits? You can have the company's Personnel Department send out a questionnaire to see what everyone likes in particular. Money is not an issue!"

"I'm preparing a base of one million. Let's put it this way: the plan you make must spend one million for me. Not a cent less, you hear me? More is fine, but absolutely not less!"

"Yes, for the lucky draw, everyone must have a prize. Oh, open your mind a bit; those gold rings and such are too cheap. If you get something like a gold pig, won't you be able to spend the money? You're a general manager, why is your thinking so rigid!"

"Alright, that's it. I'm hanging up, prepare well."

In Jingzhou, inside Tengda Company, General Manager Quan, who was just about to go out to meet a client, looked at his phone, completely bewildered. He had never seen such an order in his life.

How many times has General Zhou given out benefits this year...

The previous ones were one thing, but this time he actually set a rule that he must spend one million!

Really, he has worked for so many years and has never seen a boss like this!

I slept too late yesterday; it was 4:30 when I washed up and went to sleep, and I got up at 8:00 today. I'm too sleepy, brothers, I really can't hold on. There is only one chapter today... Thanks to another novice brother, Wenchidage, and Feimaowuyu for the tips. Thank you. Also, I want to say that the regulations and cases in the text are real, and then I processed them with exaggeration. That is to say, by this year, major platforms, Tmall, JD, etc., have all made special explanations, saying that the strikethrough price is not the original price; what is it called? It's called the daily price... Think about it, think about it carefully.

(End of chapter)