Flipkart, the mainly used online market, is accused of conducting unfair market trade by a consumer problem court judge. Compensation of ₹10,000 has been instructed to be provided to a Flipkart customer by the commission as the mental harassment is created by cancelling his iPhone order.
At last, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Area of Central Mumbai, decided that Flipkart made a profit by fraudulently cancelling the order, which brought trouble to customers and was not fair trade. The cancellation was made without giving the customer reasonable time to weigh the options, resulting in the refund receipt not being comforting enough to the customer.
The complainant, a Dadar local, purchased ₹39628 through a credit card, and at this point, he got his payment accepted. The delivery was planned for July 12 but was cancelled on the sixth day before June 17. “They told my driver that he could not access the apartment, and then the item was a no-show,” was the claim of Flipkart, according to the customer.
A logistics partner, Ekart Logistics, that Flipkart uses for its deliveries was also mentioned in the complainant’s grievance, but the Commission did make a clarification stating that the complainant actually never brought a complaint directly towards the logistics service provider. Flipkart put up a defense that it merely functioned as a web-based intermediary like International Value Retail Private Limited was the actual seller.
The commission held that the filing of the complaint was a premeditated act, as the complainant was continuously in touch with the company. Flipkart, on the other hand, could not present any proof backing up its claim of several delivery attempts being made. The commission, in turn, identified the aim to exploit the price hike, therefore violating the fair trade practice as well.
Flipkart has received a fine of ₹10,000 for damaging the customer’s mental health, and along with this amount, the customer has been compensated with ₹3,000 for the costs incurred in this matter. This decision shows that online marketplaces should ensure that the trade rules are based on equitable and open principles that end consumer rights usurpation. Flipkart must remember that it needs to be ethical as we advance; otherwise, it will get into trouble.
