Mar 30, 2005 12:45 AM
2211 Views
(Updated Mar 30, 2005 01:01 AM)
After becoming a regular habit in western world the?Online shopping? is now emerging as a new option of Shopping in India too. However, like every other thing adapted from western world we have certain constrains in Indian context.
First thing we should know before adapting any thing western that both the worlds are quiet different in many aspects. We do not have such a developed infrastructures, Judiciary & laws to protect general public, high level of literacy, ethics in routine dealings or sense of commitment and honesty.
Where the online trading is concerned, most of the Indian traders neither believe in ethical practice nor in promises. If they break promises and commitments, neither it affects their business nor they have any compulsions of Law. The general awareness in public is so low that they cannot reach up to authorities. On the other hand if you reach up to the concerned authorities half of them are corrupt and remaining half are bound by the improperly framed laws.
Where the?Online or home shopping? in Indian context is concerned we should have a look over it:
*PROJECTED CONVENIENCE:
*· Provides much more variety in a smaller amount of time at your home without driving in Red lights and Jams!
· Most items on sale & auctions directly from companies cost lesser then the market.
REALITY BEHIND THE PROJECTED CONVENIENCE:
· Shipping cost is always extra. Net cost somewhere around the factory outlets close to your neighborhood.
· Sometime projected cost even in auction sites may be more than the existing in the market. For example you may compare the prices of HP printers at Indiatimes.com AND Nehru Place, New Delhi. The prices quoted by the DIRECT COMPANY exceeds the prices offered by the dealers(Obviously with bill and warranty)
· The items projected on auctions are not properly described. Even if you see the details thoroughly the final thing you receive may be quiet different from the projected online. Till you receive the item the auction is over and you can?t even hold the site for fraudulent dealing because you do not have proof what was promised actually and what is delivered.
· Delay-the biggest problem. You will never receive the things in promised duration. No clause for damages.
· No procedure for refunds and returns, If you do not like the product or feel that you are exploited you have no channel to file the request for refunds.
· The cyber laws in India are at their infancy. No proper law-no body that knows them-No body to execute them. Payments made may be insecure. Anybody may access your accounts.
PRACTICAL EXAMPLE OF THE FAILURE OF ONLINE SHOPPING: REDIFF.COM
I ordered two flying machine shirts through Rediff.com.The proposed price was @ 299/- Plus shipping 50/-(= Rs.349 The cost of a branded Shirt at factory outlet). I was motivated by a pop-up advt seen during the visit at my e-mail. The photograph shown was very impressive and the brand name was also very convincing. The expected delivery time at the time of placing order was approx 7 days after the payment realization.
I ordered two shirts by making a payment through ICICI infinity account. My order was registered on 3.3.05 and the rediff.com confirmed the receipt of payment on 7.3.05.However, something shocking occurred simultaneously as the estimated delivery was between 18 Mar 2005 and 22 Mar 2005!
?FAKE PROMISES FOR THE DELIVERY?
Being a patience person I thought to wait till I get its delivery. But it was really surprising that no feedback or delivery was received by me till 23rd March 05. To track my order I visited the site to make a complaint. The so-called customer friendly?Track You order? facility showed that order is pending. However, no other info was given.
?POOR CUSTOMER SERVICES?
After lodging my complaint at site I received a mail stating that
?As'Flying Machine Full Sleeves Shirt - 42'items are generally fast moving items, there is a chance that they may run out of stock.
However, our enabling partners are in process of procuring new stocks and the same would be done within a week?s time. Also, we assure you that you would receive the product at the earliest through Blue dart couriers.?
?THEY BOOKED THE ORDER FOR A PRODUCT FOR WHICH THEY DO NOT HAVE PROPER STOCK?
On 28th I received a parcel containing ONE shirt(Instead of my making payment for two). And it made to think about the authenticity of both Rediff.com and Arvind Mills when I opened the parcel. I ordered a routine cotton shirt with plain sky blue color in 42/XL size. But the shirt delivered was a denim shirt of same color in 40/L size.(It is noteworthy that the size written over the parcel was 42!)
?OVERTLY FRADULENT DEALINGS?
NOW TELL ME? IS ONLINE SHOPPING BETTER THEN DIRECT MARKET SHOPPING IN INDIAN CONTEXT-ANY WHERE?
AND STILL IF YOU THINK SO -PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE ANY THING FROM REDIFF.COM
