China toy platform refund policy requires parents to scold, slap child for unapproved spending
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A major Chinese second-hand platform has sparked online controversy after allegedly requiring a mother to submit an uninterrupted five-minute video of herself slapping her child as a condition for processing a refund.
The case drew public attention when Li Yun, the mother of an unidentified 11-year-old girl, tried to get a refund after discovering that her daughter had secretly spent over 500 yuan (US$70) on trading cards on the Qiandao app.
Qiandao is widely regarded as China's leading platform for trendy second-hand toys and collectibles. It surpassed 10 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) in total transaction volume in 2025.
On the platform, buyers and sellers trade collectable toys, cards and model figures.
The platform provides official verification and authenticity guarantees. It also enforces a policy that these products are not eligible for unconditional returns within seven days.
The child had placed an order online and paid using her mother's funds. Photo: Shutterstock
However, when Li contacted a seller to request a refund on a purchase her child had made just two hours earlier, the seller accused her of "pretending to be a minor to maliciously cancel orders."
The seller even responded with a "Minor Refund Notice", demanding a five-minute video of the parent slapping the child, explicitly stating that "the video must not be paused, and the slapping sounds must be clearly audible".
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In addition, the seller required a video of the parent angrily scolding the child for at least three minutes, with both the parent and child clearly visible on camera.
The notice also mandated a 1,000-character handwritten apology letter from the child, signed, fingerprinted and read aloud by both the parent and the child.
The online platform in question specialises in second-hand toys and collectables. Photo: Shutterstock
When Li sought help from the platform's customer service unit, she was told: "Sorry, the platform cannot enforce action. We suggest both parties negotiate and communicate directly."
On October 20, the company issued a statement in which it said that "the transaction dispute arose from a personal second-hand sale", adding that the so-called "Minor Refund Notice" was sent personally by the seller and was not officially sanctioned by the platform.
"We will also guide users who post inappropriate content towards proper conduct, encouraging civil communication and helping foster a friendly trading environment," the company added.
Fu Jian, director of Henan Zejin Law Firm, stated that such a request directly violates the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors, which prohibits domestic violence.
"This kind of request is essentially inciting and coercing parents to commit domestic violence against minors," he said.
The incident, reported by IFENG.com, has sparked controversy online and divided public opinion.
The girl's mother went online to seek a refund just two hours after the payment was made. Photo: Shutterstock
Some voiced support for the abusive practices.
One person said: "I actually support it. The kid secretly used their parents' money to make a purchase, violated the sales rules, and now demands a refund? Why should the seller take all the blame?"
However, another online observer said: "My first reaction is shock and disbelief. This is no way to resolve disputes. It is treating people like objects to be humiliated at will."
A third person said: "Is there no bottom line any more? This demand is outrageously absurd. So now, after-sales service is not about reasoning, but about beating your own kid? Maybe the seller should slap themselves awake before doing business."
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Wow. Insane.
Weird things happening are not limited to the USA. Every nation has its warts.
I would think that recording FIVE MINUTES of slapping your child would get you prison time in this country. The kid could be dead after the first two minutes. This is psychotic. Can’t believe anyone would “voice support” for this. I’m questioning whether this is even real.
If it IS real, it certainly isn't a common practice, and if it IS real I believe, taking into consideration the opinion of the lawyer that it is against the law, then it is bound to be stopped.
They dont expect parents to slap their kids, but they do expect to keep the parents money.
Send them an AI video of a child being brutally beaten and use ChatGPT to write 1,000 words about how the next time will be the child’s last.
Did anyone ever hear of locking your phone?