Consumer Court Fines Flipkart Rs 20,000 for Canceling Customer’s Order

In a significant judgment, a consumer court in Berhampur, Odisha, has imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the leading e-commerce company, Flipkart, for canceling a customer's order and directed the penalty amount to be given to the aggrieved customer.

After a long legal battle, Gandhi Behera emerged victorious against Flipkart, bringing him relie after a year of struggling for justice. Flipkart has promptly handed him a cheque for Rs 20,000, as per reports.

According to the complaint, Gandhi spotted a pair of shoes on Flipkart's platform while browsing. Originally priced at Rs 4,999, the shoes were available at a discounted price of Rs 975. Without any hesitation, Gandhi placed an order for the shoes online and eagerly awaited their delivery.

However, his excitement turned into disappointment when he discovered that Flipkart had canceled his order the following day. A dejected Gandhi attempted to contact the company's helpline and express his grievances but was met with rejection. Nobody was willing to hear his complaints regarding the cancellation of his order.

Havmg grown frustrated with his attempts to resolve the matter, Gandhi approached the National Consumer helpline, which advised him to file a complaint with the local consumer court. Following this advice, Gandhi approached the Ganjam District Consumer Court and lodged a complaint against Flipkart. In his complaint, he accused Flipkart of promoting fake offers to entice customers, canceling orders without customers' consent, and causmg mental distress. After a thorough evaluation of the case, the district court acknowledged and defended Gandhi's rights as a customer, imposmg a penalty of Rs 20,000 on Flipkart. In compliance with the court's orders, Flipkart promptly presented Gandhi with a cheque for Rs 20,000, according to repotts.

An Amitabh Bachchan advert has landed Flipkart in big trouble with mobile phone retailers

 Synopsis

Smartphone retailers have accused Flipkart of misleading buyers with an advertisement featuring Amitabh Bachchan, claiming that online platforms offer better deals. In the advertisement, Bachchan says that the mobile deals offered by Flipkart will not be available at retail stores. The All India Mobile Retailers Association has written to leading smartphone brands, asking them to clarify that these statements are not accurate.

 

Smartphone retailers have called out an advertisement by Flipkart featuring Amitabh Bachchan which they allege misleads buyers into believing online platforms offer better deals this festive season. In a Hindi advertisement by the online retailer, aired to promote its upcoming festive sales, the film star could be heard saying that the kind of mobile deals Flipkart is offering will not be available at retail stores.

Reacting to the advertisement, the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA), which represents 150,000 mobile retailers, has written to leading smartphone brands to highlight the issue and also ask the brand heads to “issue either a joint or individual statement in prominent news media outlets, publicly clarifying that these statements are not accurate.”

“Our purpose in addressing you is to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the recent wave of derogatory advertisements that have been proliferating across various online platforms, social media, and print media. These advertisements have been influencing the buying behaviour of customers through false and misleading statements, such as the one promoted by Flipkart with the endorsement of the mega star, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, stating, ‘yeh Dukan per nahin milne wala’ (This will not be found in stores),” AIMRA said in its letter to smartphone brands. ET has reviewed copies of the letter.

Flipkart, meanwhile, has made the ad private on YouTube. Emails to the company did not elicit a response till press time.