The Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is exerting pressure on merchants to provide highly discounted prices on its online platforms during this year's Singles Day extravaganza, according to three industry insiders. This move is part of Alibaba's efforts to increase sales and counter a decline in its market share.

The sources, who assist numerous brands in managing their stores on Alibaba's Tmall and Taobao platforms, reported that they received instructions to offer the most attractive prices of the year for the upcoming major shopping event. Failure to do so could result in a loss of the traffic and support typically provided to participants in the event.

Alibaba's declaration of providing 80 million products at their most reduced prices for this year's extended Singles Day event, starting from late October and continuing until November 11, is coupled with an unconventional push to compel merchants to comply with its directives, according to the sources.

This approach indicates Alibaba's response to competition from platforms like Douyin and Pinduoduo, a subsidiary of PDD Holdings (PDD.O). These competitors have significantly altered the landscape of Chinese e-commerce by consistently offering discounted and lower-cost items throughout the year, leveraging techniques like live-streaming. Their methods have diminished the exclusivity of significant events like Singles Day...


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