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Rise in air purifier market leads to consumers getting lost in confusion
[2015-06-11]
Source:Global Times Published: 2015-6-11 19:38:01
Editor's Note:
There have been signs recently that pollution levels in some of the country's smoggiest cities are falling. But concerns about air quality have not gone away, and the market has seen a fast rise in the variety of air purifiers.
A total of 551 air purifier models were being sold in the Chinese mainland market in March, according to the latest data from Chinese tech portal zol.com.cn. Of the total, 32.9 percent are priced above 4,000 yuan ($644.4), the most crowded segment of the market.
To understand what's on the minds of average consumers concerning air purifiers, the Global Times spoke to three people to hear their opinions.
Jana Koetter,
a 26-year-old visiting German journalist who has been living in Beijing for three months
In my home country, air pollution nowadays is no problem at all. So air purifiers are only used by people who suffer extreme allergies.
It is no secret that China suffers from air pollution, though. This is why a huge market for air purifiers and masks has developed. Me, I do not wear a mask to protect myself from the air pollution, but I know many people who do. However, I would avoid exercising outside when the pollution is bad.
If I lived in China for a longer time, I would consider protecting myself better against the pollution, and I would probably buy an air purifier. The choice is quite difficult though, and buyers are swayed by advertisements. There are only a few ways to get independent information and to check if the air filters actually are good quality. For example, there is an increasing number of blogs and websites that test various air purifiers. If the test results are convincing enough, I would consider buying a local brand as well.
It's also hard to decide which price range to aim for, as the prices vary immensely. On one hand, I think that you have to pay some money for good quality and you should not aim for the cheapest when it concerns your health - but on the other hand, many manufacturers use this concern in order to charge higher prices for their products.
Finally, there are not many ways for ordinary people to protect themselves against false claims or exaggerations in the advertisements. I would think that there are many companies who want to establish themselves and make some money in this market, without necessarily delivering the quality required to protect people's health.
This is why buyers should be as well informed as possible.
Chen Xiaoyun,
a 33-year-old Beijing resident who recently equipped her home with a foreign-brand air purifier
I've formed the habit of checking PM 2.5 readings on a mobile app every morning, even though I already have a newly purchased air purifier switched on 24 hours a day. Whenever the reading is above 90, I feel reluctant to go outside the house. But at least the machine makes me feel at ease at home.
A high price is not really a big concern for me, and I have doubts about the claims made by some lower-priced air purifiers. It's not simply because it is a foreign brand that I opted for this model, but because it's a well-established brand that looks more convincing compared to many new local ones.
I've also recently read some news stories about how some of the models make exaggerated claims in their advertisements. I hope regulatory bodies can provide more strict oversight of the market to protect the interests of consumers.
Yang Han,
aged 23, now works in an IT firm in Shanghai. Originally from Datong, a coal city in North China's Shanxi Province, Yang is considering buying his parents an air purifier to protect them against the local smog
It's not easy to tell which brands are the best, as the brochures I've collected from various air purifier brands, both domestic and foreign, all claim to have powerful functions. Nonetheless, I don't quite believe there's a direct correlation between prices and functions. I would probably choose a local brand, as the smartphone I'm currently using is also made by a domestic company, and I think it's pretty good.
I think my parents would be happy to have an air purifier.
There have been signs recently that pollution levels in some of the country's smoggiest cities are falling. But concerns about air quality have not gone away, and the market has seen a fast rise in the variety of air purifiers.
A total of 551 air purifier models were being sold in the Chinese mainland market in March, according to the latest data from Chinese tech portal zol.com.cn. Of the total, 32.9 percent are priced above 4,000 yuan ($644.4), the most crowded segment of the market.
To understand what's on the minds of average consumers concerning air purifiers, the Global Times spoke to three people to hear their opinions.
Jana Koetter,
a 26-year-old visiting German journalist who has been living in Beijing for three months
In my home country, air pollution nowadays is no problem at all. So air purifiers are only used by people who suffer extreme allergies.
It is no secret that China suffers from air pollution, though. This is why a huge market for air purifiers and masks has developed. Me, I do not wear a mask to protect myself from the air pollution, but I know many people who do. However, I would avoid exercising outside when the pollution is bad.
If I lived in China for a longer time, I would consider protecting myself better against the pollution, and I would probably buy an air purifier. The choice is quite difficult though, and buyers are swayed by advertisements. There are only a few ways to get independent information and to check if the air filters actually are good quality. For example, there is an increasing number of blogs and websites that test various air purifiers. If the test results are convincing enough, I would consider buying a local brand as well.
It's also hard to decide which price range to aim for, as the prices vary immensely. On one hand, I think that you have to pay some money for good quality and you should not aim for the cheapest when it concerns your health - but on the other hand, many manufacturers use this concern in order to charge higher prices for their products.
Finally, there are not many ways for ordinary people to protect themselves against false claims or exaggerations in the advertisements. I would think that there are many companies who want to establish themselves and make some money in this market, without necessarily delivering the quality required to protect people's health.
This is why buyers should be as well informed as possible.
Chen Xiaoyun,
a 33-year-old Beijing resident who recently equipped her home with a foreign-brand air purifier
I've formed the habit of checking PM 2.5 readings on a mobile app every morning, even though I already have a newly purchased air purifier switched on 24 hours a day. Whenever the reading is above 90, I feel reluctant to go outside the house. But at least the machine makes me feel at ease at home.
A high price is not really a big concern for me, and I have doubts about the claims made by some lower-priced air purifiers. It's not simply because it is a foreign brand that I opted for this model, but because it's a well-established brand that looks more convincing compared to many new local ones.
I've also recently read some news stories about how some of the models make exaggerated claims in their advertisements. I hope regulatory bodies can provide more strict oversight of the market to protect the interests of consumers.
Yang Han,
aged 23, now works in an IT firm in Shanghai. Originally from Datong, a coal city in North China's Shanxi Province, Yang is considering buying his parents an air purifier to protect them against the local smog
It's not easy to tell which brands are the best, as the brochures I've collected from various air purifier brands, both domestic and foreign, all claim to have powerful functions. Nonetheless, I don't quite believe there's a direct correlation between prices and functions. I would probably choose a local brand, as the smartphone I'm currently using is also made by a domestic company, and I think it's pretty good.
I think my parents would be happy to have an air purifier.
Posted in: Word on The Street
