Company News

Recently, the problem of false advertising and high priced sales of water purifiers to elderly consumers has become more prominent in rural areas and communities. According to the statistics of the National Consumers Association's Smart 315 platform, the number of complaints in the first seven months of 2026 has exceeded the annual level of 2024. Among them, the number of complaints in July alone increased by 40.17% compared to January, showing a monthly upward trend throughout the year.

 

Some operators recruit elderly people in rural areas and communities by giving small gifts and exaggerating the effectiveness of water purifiers and fabricating water quality safety issues, creating health anxiety and inducing consumers to purchase products at high prices. This type of sales has strong liquidity, often receiving payments through personal WeChat, without issuing formal invoices, and is prone to loss of contact after sales. Rural and elderly consumers generally face difficulties in providing evidence and high costs of safeguarding their rights. To protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers, especially elderly consumers, the China Consumers Association has issued five suggestions.

 

Be wary of selling traps and do not believe in exaggerated propaganda. Some operators sell water purifiers to elderly consumers through village and town gatherings, scenic spots, and door-to-door sales. Common tricks include attracting elderly people to attend under the guise of "free gifts" and "health education"; Using water electrolysis experiments to create drinking water panic; Claiming that water purifiers have therapeutic effects such as "regulating the body" and "improving chronic diseases"; Label low-cost products with high prices of thousands or even tens of thousands of yuan, and then use phrases such as "going to the countryside to benefit the people" and "limited time discounts" to induce purchases.

 

The China Consumers Association reminds consumers that the core function of water purifiers is to improve drinking water quality and does not have any therapeutic effect on diseases. Anyone who claims to be able to "treat diseases," "maintain health," or "improve chronic diseases" is false advertising. In the face of propaganda such as "free" and "gift", it is important to remain rational and not believe easily.

 

Identify legitimate channels and verify product qualifications. Many organizers of mobile sales events do not have fixed stores or formal qualifications, making it difficult for personnel to evacuate and after-sales service to be guaranteed after the event, which can easily lead to loss of contact and running away. Electric water purification products included in the mandatory certification catalog, some of which do not have the national mandatory safety certification CCC mark affixed to their bodies and outer packaging as required, posing safety hazards such as electric leakage; Some products belong to the "three no" category, with no Chinese product name, factory name, or address.

 

Consumers should choose shopping malls, specialty stores, or official online channels of brands with complete licenses when purchasing water purifiers. Verify product qualifications when purchasing, whether it has a health license issued by a provincial or higher health department, and whether the model is consistent with the approval information; Electric water purification products included in the mandatory certification catalog must have the national mandatory safety certification CCC mark; At the same time, the product qualification certificate and factory inspection report should be checked. Consumers can verify the authenticity of the product's hygiene license through the official website of the health department.

 

Understand product performance and make rational and on-demand purchases. Different types of water purifiers have varying filtration effects and applicable scenarios. The actual service life of some product filters does not match the prompts on the product panel, and consumers only realize after purchasing that the cost of use is much higher than expected.

 

Consumers should have a detailed understanding of the product's water purification flow rate, rated total water purification capacity, applicable water pressure and other parameters before purchasing, and choose the appropriate type based on local water quality conditions and actual household needs. At the same time, attention should be paid to the replacement cycle and price of the filter element, taking into account the overall cost of use. Before purchasing large items, it is advisable to consult with family members and avoid blind consumption.

 

Clarify after-sales terms and request formal certificates. Some operators only issue simple receipts after the transaction, without providing formal invoices and complete three guarantee certificates; Failure to fulfill the obligations of repair, replacement, and return in accordance with the national three guarantee regulations after performance failure; Some operators temporarily charge additional accessory fees during the installation process without prior notice; Some brand owners and distributors shift blame to each other, and after consumers report repairs, there is no one to handle them for a long time.

 

Consumers must request the merchant to provide a formal invoice, complete warranty card, and three guarantee certificate when making a purchase. Detailed understanding of installation costs, filter replacement costs, and other subsequent expenses, requiring merchants to clarify the relevant charging standards in writing. For promotions such as "free airport delivery", it is important to ask if there are any additional conditions.

 

Make good use of legal weapons and protect rights rationally in accordance with the law. Consumers should pay attention to preserving evidence such as shopping invoices, receipts, contracts, warranty cards, promotional materials, communication records, and transfer vouchers after purchasing products. If encountering illegal situations such as false advertising and consumer fraud, according to Article 55 of the Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law of the People's Republic of China, the operator is required to refund the purchase price and claim punitive damages of three times the purchase price. In case of consumer disputes, you can call the Consumer Association Complaints Hotline or file a complaint through the National Consumer Association Smart 315 Platform, or report to relevant administrative departments. If a large amount of money is involved, it should be reported to the public security organs in a timely manner.