eBay needs to pay $59 million after selling machines used to make illegal pills

💸 Behind the fine

eBay will need to pay $59 million with the Justice Department after selling of thousands of pill press machines and encapsulating machines on its platform.

• The machines could be used to make fake drugs, sometimes even having fentanyl

• Pill presses can make thousands of pills per hour and worsens the opioid crisis in the United States

• Fentanyl is a big contributor to the deadliest overdose crisis in the US history

📝 What they DIDN’T do

The investigation revealed that eBay didn’t comply with the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of verifying buyer identities and records. Many of these buyers were found to be involved in trafficking illegal pills.

Sellers of pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment are required by law to follow regulations, including verifying buyers' identities and reporting to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prevent illegal use of the equipment.

Fentanyl is the deadliest drug in the US, according to the DEA.

Temu gets 5 ads in the Superbowl

Temu itself seems to spend like a billionaire. airing 5 ads in this year’s Superbowl. 

These commercials featured a catchy jingle and the slogan “Shop like a billionaire,” accompanied by $15 million in giveaways.

Temu has already showed strong interest in getting to the U.S. in the past, and this year they decided to hit one of the biggest sporting events in the country.

🛍️ High budget, cheap products

Temu's flashy advertising strategy didn't go unnoticed on social media. Viral posts surfaced, making fun of the irony of Temu’s cheap products but high budget for multiple Superbowl commercials.

According to sources familiar with advertising sales, the rates ranged from $6.5 million to $7 million for 30 second spots on CBS, the broadcasting channel for the game.

📈 Viral on Google

Despite the high budget, Temu succeeded in bringing curious viewers, which could mean its plan to win the U.S. could be much closer.

After the five commercials and Twitter virality Temu got, searches for Temu surged.

Walmart gets fancier with new AI and AR

Are you a fan of Walmart? The company has more than 10,500 stores in 19 countries. While its been around since the 1960s, it recently upgraded again, now having more fun and convenient AI and augmented reality shopping options:

🤖 Using some Walmart AI:

• GenAI search lets you search with specific terms (like searching “football watch party”) and shows you results from that category. It also uses factors like location and search history for more context.

• InHome Delivery lets you choose delivery locations like doorstep, garage, or refrigerator.

• InHome Replenishment, an upgraded version of this, learns what you usually buy and how much. It will then auto order those for you to be delivered straight to you when you need them.

🥽 How about augmented reality:

• ‘View in Your Home’ lets you virtually place home goods in your living spaces before purchase.

• ‘Virtual Try-on’ allows for mixing and matching outfits virtually using models with similar sizing and shape.

• Shop with Friends lets to shop socially, sharing fashion finds with friends.

Moxii has already covered some of the older developments for Walmart too, like the untapped power of its drone delivery or the convenience of its self check outs.