On November 4th, Dangdang Network simultaneously launched on Pinbei and Tmall Mall.
Liu Qiangdong mocked Li Guoqing on Weibo for "sucking up to the big boys." His words, though harsh, were true.
Li Guoqing didn't take it lying down, stating bluntly, "When Da Qiangzi launched on Pinbei Mall last year, I certainly didn't bad-mouth him."
The implication was that Liu Qiangdong was a hypocrite.
If Jingdong could do it, why couldn't Dangdang?
This showed that the e-commerce landscape of 2012 was quietly shifting. Vertical e-commerce platforms were facing increasing pressure to survive as they were suppressed by the comprehensive platforms.
Li Guoqing's move to join forces with Pinbei and Tmall Mall was a last resort.
That afternoon, news broke that Jingdong and Meizu had signed an 800 million yuan procurement contract.
