Buying mobile phones online has become a common trend nowadays because e-commerce websites offer discounts which are not available at retail outlets but frauds are also taking place due to online shopping.
On January 21, Tabrez Mehboob Nagaralli (26) ordered an iPhone 8 for a price of Rs. 55,069 from e-commerce website Flipkart. On the very next day, the package was delivered to him at his office which is in Belvedre Hill Co-Operative Society, Mazgaon.
But what was delivered to him was a pink soap bar and not the iPhone.
Tabrez told,
“The delivery boy left after taking my digital signature. A friend of mine and the watchman were near me as I unpacked the box. When I finally did, I was shocked to find a pink soap bar.”
Tabrez called customer care and informed them about the incident. The customer care executive assured Tabrez that the issue will be solved by January 25 but till January 29, Tabrez didn’t receive a reply from the company. However, on January 31, he got a call from the customer care executive telling him that his complaint has been cancelled and he also got an email which reads, “The product has been delivered properly and hence the complaint raised by him is being disposed of.”
Tabrez added,
“After repeated calls, I was told that they will not be able to do anything since I had taken possession of the phone. They even hinted at the possibility that I was lying since their delivery boy had done his part. Later, they blacklisted me so I decided to take legal recourse.”
After getting blacklisted by Flipkart, Tabrez decided to legal action against the company and he filed a complaint against Flipkart.
Senior police inspector of Byculla police station, Avinash Shingte, told,
“We have registered a case of cheating against Flipkart and its courier service. We will soon question the delivery boy and other people associated with the delivery.”
Tabrez is now unnecessarily paying installments for the iPhone but Tabrez said,
“The finance company has informed that they will be able to cancel the loan only if Flipkart returns the money.”
While the spokesperson of Flipkart said,
“We will resolve the matter at the earliest.”
Online shopping may be convenient and cost-effective but it is risky too. What’s more, e-commerce companies must take measures to avoid such incidents.