WeChat Pay has tightened controls on vape businesses, with some personal accounts reportedly suspended, especially those suspected of selling vaping products through Moments.
Blue Hole reported on new consumption. On November 29, Blue Hole received feedback from many people in the e-cigarette industry that the WeChat system has recently implemented relevant controls on e-cigarettes, mainly reflected in two aspects.
The first is that some WeChat personal accounts have been banned. It is understood that most of the banned personal accounts are suspected of selling e-cigarettes in friends circles.
An e-cigarette seller told Blue Hole that two accounts in his hand had been banned today, but a complaint could be filed.
The reason for the ban is that login is temporarily restricted on suspicion of spreading harassment/illegal marketing content.
Another development is that the WeChat merchant platform has begun to remind some e-cigarette companies that accessing e-cigarette business is non-compliant and requires rectification.
The merchant received a backstage reminder stating that the merchant was suspected of selling e-cigarette business on the Internet and required to complete the rectification within 7 days and submit a letter of commitment. If the rectification is not made within the time limit, the payment function will be closed.
The relevant letter of commitment requires an undertaking that the business in breach of contract has stopped and a guarantee is provided.
Previously, according to Notice No. 1 issued by the Tobacco Monopoly Administration and the State Administration for Market Supervision, requiring offline Internet e-commerce sales, WeChat has removed many e-cigarette manufacturers 'sales Mini programs, and even restricted some Weixin Official Accounts functions.
The chain reaction triggered by Notice No. 1 is far from over. The sudden ban on online sales caught many e-cigarette manufacturers off guard. The stock inventory of Double 11 ranges from millions to hundreds of millions.
According to Blue Hole New Consumers, industries including e-cigarette factories and e-cigarette brands have begun to lay off workers and slim down, and many companies are even about to close due to funding problems.
For e-cigarette practitioners, this winter is a bit cold.
