E-Ladies: Navigating the Wired World
Chapter 117: Episode 117: The Annual Major Review is Coming Soon

Chapter 117: Episode 117: The Annual Major Review is Coming Soon

"Hmm?" Liu He furrowed his brows and thought for a long time before suddenly relaxing, "Oh! That one! Oh my, that was a topic from three months ago! It was right at the beginning of summer when we did that comparison review."

"It’s really funny, three months have passed, and only now they remember to look for us?" Zhou Xueyin was also confused.

"Who knows, but their products are really poor. Not to mention the heavy metals are over the limit, the effects are so-so. It’s cheap, but who would dare to use it?" Liu He said disdainfully.

"Well, maybe they’re targeting low-end users..." Zhou Xueyin interjected, "But even if it’s aimed at low-end users, the heavy metals exceeding the limit are absolutely unacceptable. Good choice of topic!"

"Of course!" Liu He confidently said, "To test the composition of these products, I even took them to the quality inspection department for lab tests!"

"Why didn’t you tell me? How much did it cost? Did you get reimbursed?" Zhou Xueyin asked with concern.

"You were busy with other things at that time, so I took the liberty. Wang Anqi has already reimbursed it!" Liu He said with a relieved smile.

"That’s good! When they call again later, I’ll tell them the truth." Zhou Xueyin wasn’t worried about it at all, and they both returned to their desks to continue working.

A few days later, the PR from Beauty Home called Zhou Xueyin again: "Hello? Sorry, Miss Zhou, about the article we discussed the other day..."

"I’ve verified that article, and there’s no issue. It didn’t specifically target your company. Do you have any problem?" Zhou Xueyin responded uncompromisingly.

"It’s about this, the part in your review about the heavy metals exceeding the limit. Our company’s quality report shows that it doesn’t exceed the limits." Indeed, the most controversial point had been touched upon...

"Our editor paid out of pocket to send the products for testing at the quality supervision bureau to ensure fairness and accuracy. Our data is valid too, it’s not made up!" Zhou Xueyin methodically countered back.

"..." After a pause, the other side said, "How about this? Our company will send you a sample of sunscreen. Could you do a review on it?" It seemed Beauty Home was trying its hardest to maintain the reputation of their product line.

"Of course! We will conduct a detailed review of your product responsibly. If there’s a discrepancy with the review data, we will publicly apologize!" Zhou Xueyin sincerely replied.

"Thank you very much! We look forward to the detailed review. Goodbye!" The other party hung up respectfully.

But Zhou Xueyin pondered a bit, feeling like something was amiss. So, she approached Liu He again: "Hehe, they said they’d send over a sample of sunscreen in a few days, asking for another review..."

"Why send anything big? Just buy a bottle from the store, right?" Liu He looked puzzledly at Zhou Xueyin.

"Oh! I get it!" Having heard Liu He say this, Zhou Xueyin realized where the uncomfortable feeling during her conversation with Beauty Home had come from, "I suspect that the bottle they’re sending might be the one they would send to the quality inspection department. But the ones in stores might not be the same..."

"Hmm! I have a new topic now! Yinyin, could you help me get some products sent over from the brands featured in the previous reviews?" Liu He’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Zhou Xueyin.

"Wow, wouldn’t that be too much work?" Zhou Xueyin looked worried.

"Not really, each person handles a few products, and in about a week, we can get this topic out!" Liu He confidently said.

"Let’s make it into a big feature then, just call it: ’The Great Sunscreen Comparisons - Are the Data on Labels Always True?’" Zhou Xueyin thought aloud, "This could be a major topic for the year, different from those minor articles from before, right?"

"Right! Whatever you say! I’ll make sure of it, hehe~" Liu He happily returned to his desk.

"Jixiang, help out, call these companies and ask if they can send us a sample for our annual comparison. Tell them we hope for their cooperation..." Zhou Xueyin gave Jixiang a list.

"Okay! Leave it to me!" Jixiang agreed instantly and started coordinating with Zhang Jingwan and Zhao Caiyun to contact the people on the list.

"Shanbao, make a feature layout for the comparisons. I trust your aesthetic judgment!" Zhou Xueyin looked confidently at Shanshan.

"Yinyin, just you watch! I promise to create a feature that the whole internet will envy!" Shanshan gave a thumbs up and responded.

"KK, once Shanbao’s feature layout is ready, just link up Liu He and the others’ sections in the backend."

"Okay!" Kang Siyin nodded.

"Then, all that’s left is..." Once the feature was ready, Zhou Xueyin contacted promotional executives from major websites to arrange for advertisements on their platforms when the time came.

A week later, the contacted products gradually arrived at the company, the pricier ones with reputations for quality were almost indistinguishable from the ones available in store displays.

The second-tier ones were slightly cheaper and their packaging significantly inferior to what was seen at counters.

Looking at the product from Beauty Home, it was just an ordinary brown plastic bottle with no outer packaging. The manual was scattered inside the box, as if packed in a rush, showing utter lack of sincerity.

The packaging at their counters, however, was exquisitely delightful, even tied with a ribbon, looking quite high-end.

Not only Beauty Home but also other cheaper sunscreens sold at counters largely indulged in showy packaging, while the inspection samples were a complete mess.

The first comparison, the aesthetic, made clear the different levels of commitment from the manufacturers.

Next was the scent comparison. The pricier sunscreens, whether sent by manufacturers or bought at counters, smelled exactly the same, showing no disparity whatsoever.

Not just the pricier ones, the other brands also showed no difference.

However, Beauty Home and another product had significant differences.

The manufacturer-sent product smelled normal, free of any odd odors, but the one bought at a counter had a weird smell, distinctly different from the direct-sent product.

"Ha! I knew it! The products Beauty Home sends for inspection can stand up to scrutiny. But the actual products they put on shelves are all inferior!" Liu He furiously exclaimed, "How shameless of them! Let’s slap this review on their faces and see what they have to say!"