www.xpk888.com Sinopec group purchase of Mercedes-Benz

Yesterday, it was reported that Sinopec Group provided employees with group buying services, allowing them to purchase various types of cars including Mercedes-Benz. Yesterday, this reporter logged into the "Sinopec Group Buying Network" and found that the service targets only Sinopec employees. Employees who buy Mercedes-Benz C-Class or E-Class sedans through group buying can enjoy a discount of 20,000 yuan, while those who buy Peugeot cars can get a discount of 2,000 to 4,000 yuan. Sinopec Group did not comment on this matter yesterday.

The website went online in March 2009.

The "Sinopec Group Buying Network" shows that the website went online in March 2009, hosted by China Petroleum News under the Sinopec Group. Relevant personnel of China Petroleum News hosting the website said yesterday to this reporter that the establishment of the website is mainly to serve employees. So far, only a few Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars have been sold, and no Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars have been sold. When the economy was not good at the beginning of 2009, cars and houses were hard to sell, and many manufacturers also hoped to expand their influence and sales through this online platform. After receiving orders, the group-buying website would directly hand them over to 4S stores without collecting money from employees.

This reporter saw on the homepage of the website yesterday hot products such as Beijing Benz, Changan Automobile (Chongqing), Dongfeng Peugeot, Beijing Hyundai, Apple, Newman, and Samsung. If Peugeot cars are purchased through group buying, Sinopec employees can enjoy an additional discount of 2,000 to 4,000 yuan on the base price. For Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class sedans, the discount for Sinopec Group employees starts at 20,000 yuan.

The website information shows that since its launch in March 2009, it has cumulatively saved more than 20 million yuan in car purchasing funds for Sinopec employees.

Analysis: "Not the same as benefits"

According to the website information, all services provided are aimed at all employees of Sinopec Group and its subordinate enterprises. All members need to truthfully fill in their real name, phone number, email, and the full name of their affiliated unit when registering, and the website will review within 12 hours. However, customer service personnel of the website said yesterday that even if you are not a Sinopec employee, you can still participate, but you need to register with true information first.

A Sinopec Group employee said yesterday, "I know the company has this group-buying website, it seems like the Petroleum News is doing it. It's normal to do group buying now, but I haven't participated yet."

Han Xiaoping, a social supervisor hired by Sinopec, said that since it is a group-buying website, it should aim for profit and not just serve Sinopec employees. This is not the same as benefits.

■ Netizen voices

Sina Weibo netizen Zhang Mingjie-KD: Monopoly industries concentrate advantageous resources and public funds, but shouldn't the corporate dividends thus brought belong to the public?

Sina mobile netizen: It feels reasonable, we cannot deny reasonable employee benefits just because we resent Sinopec.

Sina yz_8927: Group buying should be a market-oriented expression. The Petrochemical group buying doesn't use corporate money to benefit employees, but rather uses the advantages of a large enterprise. In reality, the discounts aren't much, generally just a few thousand yuan, with the lowest possibly only over 1,000 yuan.

Sina mobile user: I am an employee of Sinopec Qilu Petrochemicals. My salary just increased at the beginning of the year, but my take-home pay is less than 3,000 yuan. I've been working shifts for 20 years. Do you think I can afford a Mercedes?