Is the Wish marketplace failing?

While a lot of the world’s consumers have been enjoying inexpensive knock-offs and a plethora of goods straight from China, the marketplace is well under pressure as its supply chain and manufacturing is failing in its deliveries of goods.

COVID-19 disruptions

It all started with the virus turning into a pandemic around the world that soften the supply chains through shutdowns in major metropolitan areas of China. It all began in Wuhan in the Hubei province, but as the spread of the virus continued past March 2020 in northern provinces bordering Russia as well as Beijing, the battle to contain the virus continues as several waves are hitting the country. All of this impacts factories, truck deliveries, halted trains from traveling and people being locked into their homes.

Major floods in China

In the past 45 days, China has been hit with significant rainfall, flooding millions of acres affecting the lands upstream on major damns, as well as downstream as they release excess water. The impact has been catastrophic for millions of residents – many of which have lost their homes, businesses and of course, transportation has been neutralised as roads washed away. While the record-setting rainfall are reaching 100yr flood levels, the 3 Gorges Damn is still holding yet is at heightened stress levels. All major rivers are affected with the Yangtze being the hardest hit. As for deliveries of goods, if it has not reached an outgoing ship, it will not be leaving China anytime soon.

Wish Support disabled

You can no longer talk to a human for support. While before they used AI to resolve some of the basic issues, the ability to complain for a product that has not arrived in months is not longer available. Worse yet, any inquiry for a product that is not arrived is met with FAQ’s or excuses for the lack of delivery – there is NO recourse for a refund.

Deceptive delivery schedules

While all this mayhem has been impacting Chinese goods since the earlier part of 2020, Wish has been manufacturing goods delivery schedules to reduce customer worries of their purchases. While this may work in the short term, the packages that have not left are now being exposed as arrivals being shown to be in the destination country do not reflect deliveries. This tries to absolve Wish from liability and placing the blame on the receiving country when in fact, the goods are not departing China.

What are shoppers to do?

Don’t buy anything from Wish or anything originating from China until the disruptions pass. The Chinese economy is going through significant challenges both politically with boycotts (Such as India/Australia and other nations standing up to China’s Wolf Warrior policies) as well as the disruptions mentioned above.

Conclusion

While the app and Marketplace are still open “as usual” – many behind the scenes vendors struggle to operate. Wish is no longer taking responsibility for a real delivery schedule, or delivery of goods with their Support line being disabled. They are currently blaming COVID-19 for the disruption of deliveries in the receiving country. Returns and refunds take you to their policies FAQ, and their Help Centre takes you back in circles to their FAQ’s. Just don’t fall for the trap of cheap goods and hope that it will arrive until things have stabalised.