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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Alibaba is now doing online sperm promotions | Alibaba is now doing online sperm promotions |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant - has spotted a way to profit from China's spiralling infertility and dwindling birth rate by offering deals on an unusual product: sperm. | Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant - has spotted a way to profit from China's spiralling infertility and dwindling birth rate by offering deals on an unusual product: sperm. |
| Alibaba has been known to sell everything from Buddha-shaped pears to fat-freezing machines in 16-year history. | Alibaba has been known to sell everything from Buddha-shaped pears to fat-freezing machines in 16-year history. |
| Earlier this month it posted a three-day promotion for seven sperm banks on its daily deals site Juhuasuan. | |
| A £516 subsidy for donors tempted more than 22,000 men to sign up to the offer, Bloomberg reported, citing a company statement. | A £516 subsidy for donors tempted more than 22,000 men to sign up to the offer, Bloomberg reported, citing a company statement. |
| Alibaba put its popularity down to the fact that donors were connected to sperm banks online, bypassing the need for what some might see as an awkward in-person consultation. Afterwards participants then had to agree to a physical check-up within three months. | Alibaba put its popularity down to the fact that donors were connected to sperm banks online, bypassing the need for what some might see as an awkward in-person consultation. Afterwards participants then had to agree to a physical check-up within three months. |
| The move follows the success of products such as paternity tests and sperm motility kits on the same site and reflects the company’s efforts push further into healthcare. | The move follows the success of products such as paternity tests and sperm motility kits on the same site and reflects the company’s efforts push further into healthcare. |
| It also comes after a number of China’s sperm banks have reported shortages. | It also comes after a number of China’s sperm banks have reported shortages. |
| An Alibaba survey revealed that high intelligence and good features were the most sought after characteristics for donors. | An Alibaba survey revealed that high intelligence and good features were the most sought after characteristics for donors. |
| Alibaba runs several online marketplaces including China’s largest shopping website Taobao. Last year Alibaba listed on the New York Stock Exchange in the world’s largest initial public offering at $25 billion. |