Shopee said on its official website that there will be a 2 percent handling charge for customers who choose GCash as their method of payment.
Another heartbreak for Shopee GCash users
When making purchases on Shopee, do you use GCash as a form of payment? I have some bad news for you.
But first, a quick recap: On November 1, 2022, Shopee first added a 1 percent handling fee. It will increase to 2 percent on February 13. This is true for all GCash payment methods on the site, including GCredit’s buy-now-pay-later and the GGives borrow money function.
The 2 percent can appear small at first, but once you start buying more expensive things or items in mass, it might affect your wallet.
USTR flags Shopee as counterfeit hub
Recently, the USTR also identified Shopee as a hub for counterfeit goods. According to the most recent US Trade Representative (USTR) 2022 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy, it is a physical store for counterfeit goods as well as an online market for piracy.
Shopee.com was also listed as one of the notorious internet marketplaces in the meantime. One of the most well-liked online markets in the Philippines is the online shopping platform, which is also a mobile app.
It is an online and mobile e-commerce platform with its headquarters in Singapore. It primarily serves Southeast Asia, Europe, and Brazil through country-specific platforms.
According to the USTR, right holders claim widespread high levels of counterfeit products on certain of its platforms. They also complain about the platforms’ numerous national restrictions, delayed and redundant processes, and slow response times.
Although some rights holders have indicated that counterfeits are also available on its platforms in Taiwan and Vietnam, USTR stated that these platforms appear to be positive examples of enhanced engagement with rights holders and anticounterfeiting efforts.
The site boosted its interaction with right holders in 2022 by launching a trial program for its new brand protection site and hiring a worldwide brand protection director.
According to the USTR, right holders encouraged Shopee to upgrade its processes for screening vendors, increase penalties for counterfeit items to prevent further use, and work with them to investigate the supply chain for any fake goods bought through the site.
Still, in the end, Shopee has good-quality products that are affordable, and it’s the easiest way to shop and find basic needs.
