In autumn, people just want to have fun

Singles Day is nigh. Buzz is, the online shopping festival's discount offers will extend the season's fun.

But there's also skepticism and a sense of deja vu. "Sellers first inflate the prices of unsold goods, offer hefty discounts, and then offer poor after-sales services and refunds." That's the constant refrain of consumers feeling hard done by.

Two factors could make this Nov 11 different though. New consumer courts will handle online shopping complaints. And the Big Three - Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu - that have been doing their own thing so far, appear to be eyeing online synergies.