Amazon has launched a mini program on Baidu’s app on Friday which will allow users to shop during the retailer’s Black Friday promotion, according to a press release by Baidu.
A total of more than 20 million items, including skin care products, toys, and kitchenware from countries that include the US, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany, will be available on the Amazon Haiwaigou (which means “shopping overseas”) mini program, Chinese media outlet Weilai Kejifan reported. Amazon’s Black Friday shopping festival will run from November 13 to December 1.
Amazon is teaming up with Chinese courier SF Express to ensure cross-border delivery.
Baidu has promised to offer goods on November 26 with lower prices than on “Double 11”, China’s annual shopping bonanza and free shipping with a minimum purchase of RMB 200 (USD 30), according to the release. The company’s cooperation with Amazon mirrors Pinduoduo’s move last year. The US e-commerce giant opened a store with over 20,000 goods ahead of Black Friday, KrASIA reported.
“The Amazon Haiwaigou mini program enhances Baidu’s capabilities in providing mobile e-commerce,” said Lin Xiaolin, head of Baidu’s smart mini program ecosystem. Out of 200 million search inquiries on Baidu each day, more than 30 million are about e-commerce, the company says. The search engine last month launched a shopping channel inside its app and later teamed up with China Unicom to sell iPhones inside this channel.
“I am not very optimistic toward Baidu’s e-commerce moves as the company lacks a continual e-commerce strategy, which can make it hard for vendors to trust it,” Li Chengdong, founder and CEO of the Dolphin think tank, told KrASIA on Monday, adding that Baidu has made several unsuccessful attempts in the sector over the past years.
