The bonus payout for eligible employees at the Senior Director (SD) level and below will be disbursed in March.
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Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce platform, has signed an MoU with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to support and empower tech start-ups in India.

Aimed at encouraging the growth of innovators and entrepreneurs, the partnership would build on existing efforts under the Flipkart Leap and Ventures initiative with its $100 million fund, said Flipkart in a statement on Monday (December 9, 2024).

Till date, the e-tailer invested in 20 companies in the country and continued to identify startups with high growth potential, it said.

Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group, said, “This MoU reflects our shared goal of empowering startups through strategic support, resource access, and global market connections.’‘

According to the communique, this collaboration will enable access for startups to industry reports, research papers, datasets and other studies published by government authorities for market research and fast-track patent applications filed by startups for timely opportunities.

‘’We are happy to partner with Flipkart to bolster our focus on creating a thriving environment for startups to scale new heights,’‘ commented Sumeet Jarangal, Director DPIIT.

Under the Flipkart Ventures initiative, startups would be offered resources, guidance, and support for different milestones, such as prototype development, infrastructural support, network access and insights for international expansions.

‘’With the continued association and combined synergies, Flipkart was looking at unlocking opportunities for entrepreneurs with its $100 million venture fund to pioneer breakthroughs that shape the future of technology and business in India and beyond, added Mr. Kumar.

Mumbai:

A consumer disputes redressal commission here found Flipkart guilty of unfair trade practice for not accepting the return of an “inferior quality” food product, citing that it is under “obligation to see the product sold on its platform is of good quality”.

The commission ruled that the seller of the food product was also guilty of deficiency in service for not accepting the return.

In an order passed earlier this month, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (Mumbai Suburban) directed the seller and the e-commerce company to refund the customer the price she paid for the product with interest.

The complainant, a resident of Goregaon, said she had bought 13 small plastic containers of an health drink mix for Rs 4,641 from Flipkart in October 2023.

After delivery, however, the complainant claimed she found that the colour and texture of the product were not normal.

She also noticed that no QR code was mentioned on the label of the said product, and she alleged that “a fake duplicate product” was delivered to her.

When the complainant sought to return the product, Flipkart rejected the request, citing a no-return policy.

The commission, in its order, noted that the complainant had produced the SMS correspondence between her and Flipkart, which shows that the e-commerce company has specifically mentioned that this product has a “no return policy”.

It noted that this amounts to an unfair trade practice on the company’s part.

The commission also held that since the seller failed to either replace or pay the value thereof to the complainant, the deficiency in service on its part is proved.

“The opposite party number 1 (Flipkart), being an e-business marketplace, is under obligation to see to that the product being sold from its e-marketplace is of good quality,” it observed.

The commission then directed that the price the complainant paid for the product be refunded to her with interest.

It also directed both the e-commerce company and the seller to pay a compensation of 10,000 to the woman.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

E-commerce giant Flipkart has issued an apology for a promotional video, which sparked outrage among men’s rights groups and social media users. The animated video, promoting Flipkart’s ‘Big Billion Days Sale’, referred to husbands as “aalsi (lazy), kambakkht (wretched) and bewakoof (stupid)”.

The now-deleted video featured a couple and offered tips on how women could discreetly order and store handbags from Flipkart without their husbands’ knowledge. However, the men’s rights group ‘NCMIndia Council For Men Affairs’ found the content “toxic” and “misandrist”.

On X, the group shared the video and demanded an apology from Flipkart. “So @Flipkart deleted this misandrist post. But what was the logic behind even posting such toxic video addressing a Husband as Aalsi, Kambakkht and Bewakoof Pati. They must apologise for this and hope they will not repeat it. Misandry will Not be Tolerated Anymore,” the post read.

So @Flipkart deleted this misandrist post. But what was the logic behind even posting such toxic video addressing a Husband as Aalsi, Kambakkht and Bewakoof Pati. They must apologise for this and hope they will not repeat it. Misandry will Not be Tolerated Anymore. https://t.co/GwiEzgdMEHpic.twitter.com/fLf8KywE0e

— NCMIndia Council For Men Affairs (@NCMIndiaa) September 23, 2024

The video has now been removed from Flipkart’s social media platforms. They apologised, saying they “will do better in the future.” “We’re sorry for the offending video which was posted in error, and took it down as soon as we realised our mistake,” they said.

We’re sorry for the offending video which was posted in error, and took it down as soon as we realised our mistake. We will do better in the future

— Flipkart (@Flipkart) September 23, 2024

A user asked the online marketplace, “How did you approve this in the first place? Did the publisher get fired or not?”

How did you approve this in the first place? Did the publisher get fired or not? @Flipkart

— PS (@CryptoGawd_007) September 23, 2024

“Shameful,” someone wrote.

SHAMEFUL..

— Unknown (Parody) (@unknown211087) September 23, 2024

Someone claimed they would boycott the platform and order from their rival Amazon instead. 

“You should fire those executives who thought of this idea and if thats a agency stop doing your business with them ASAP. Was going to order A samsung Fridge and a Seiko Watch from you but will now order that from @amazonIN.”

No @Flipkart you should fire those executives who thought of this idea and if thats a agency stop doing your business with them ASAP

Was going to order A samsung Fridge and a Seiko Watch from you but will now order that from@amazonIN

— Manish (@ManDey1412) September 23, 2024

Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale started today, September 27, and will go on till October 6. 

This year’s sale promises big discounts, exclusive launches and fantastic bank offers across categories.

Large appliances like TVs, washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioners from Samsung, LG and Sony will see significant discounts. Mobile phone enthusiasts can look forward to discounts on the latest launches from Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi and Realme.

The sale also covers fashion, personal care, furniture, decor and groceries, offering discounts on clothing, shoes, accessories, home essentials and furniture from leading brands.

Mumbai:

A consumer disputes redressal commission here found Flipkart guilty of adopting unfair trade practices and ordered it to pay a customer Rs 10,000 for the mental harassment he suffered after it cancelled his iPhone order.

The cancellation was intentional to make extra profit, which amounts to a deficiency in service and unfair and restrictive trade practice adopted by the online platform, said the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Central Mumbai, in the order passed last month.

The detailed order was available on Sunday.

The commission noted that though the customer had received a refund, he needed to be compensated for the mental harassment and agony he suffered because of the unilateral cancellation of his order.

As per the complainant, a Dadar resident, he ordered an iPhone from Flipkart on July, 10 2022 and paid Rs 39,628 using his credit card.

The phone was supposed to be delivered on July 12, but six days later he received an SMS from the e-commerce company that his order was cancelled.

When contacted, the company told him that their Ekart delivery boy had made several attempts to deliver the product but the complainant was unavailable and hence, the order was cancelled.

The cancellation has not only caused loss, and mental harassment but also subjected him to online fraud, the complainant said.

Flipkart’s delivery partner, Ekart Logistics, was also a party to the complaint but the commission held that it is a delivery partner and there is no consumer and service provider relationship between the complainant and the logistics firm.

Flipkart, in its written response, said the complainant had mistakenly taken it as the seller of the product.

The company said it merely operates as an online platform as an intermediary, and all the products on the platform are sold and supplied by independent third-party sellers.

The seller in this case was International Value Retail Private Limited, and Flipkart had no role to play in the entire transaction entered between the complainant and the seller, it said.

The company claimed that it informed the seller of the complainant’s grievance, the latter said the delivery person had made several attempts to deliver the product to the address but the complainant was unavailable and hence, the order was cancelled by the seller.

The money has been refunded and the dispute exists only between the complainant and the seller, and there is no cause of action against Flipkart, it said.

However, the commission, noted that the order was “unilaterally cancelled” by the e-commerce company that too when the complainant was constantly in touch with it and was assured that his concern was being looked into.

It further said Flipkart had not produced any proof about multiple attempts of service by it or by the seller as claimed.

The commission noted that Flipkart has admitted that the order was cancelled and the complainant was asked to place a fresh order.

This adds weight to the complainant’s case that the cost of the said product had increased by around Rs 7,000 and hence the order was cancelled and he was asked to place a fresh order, it said.

The commission pointed out that Flipkart had done this intentionally to make extra profit, which amounts to a deficiency in service and unfair and restrictive trade practices adopted by it.

“Though the complainant has received the refund, he needs to be compensated for the mental harassment and agony suffered by him due to the unilateral cancellation of his order by Flipkart,” it said.

The commission ordered Flipkart to pay Rs 10,000 towards compensation for the mental harassment and agony suffered by the complainant and Rs 3,000 towards the cost. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Traders’ body CAIT has filed a complaint with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs against a Flipkart advertisement featuring Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan on the upcoming Big Billion Days sale, terming the advertisement as “misleading”.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) in its complaint to the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) termed the advertisement “misleading” and against the country’s small retailers. It has also sought withdrawal of the advertisement, according to a statement.

CAIT demanded that a penalty be imposed on Flipkart as per relevant provisions of the Consumer Protection Act for “false or misleading advertisement” and imposition of a Rs 10 lakh fine on Amitabh Bachchan.

An email sent to Flipkart did not elicit a response. Bachchan could not be contacted for comments.

“As per the definition under Section 2(47), Flipkart, acting through Amitabh Bachchan (endorser), have misled the public regarding the price at which mobile phones are being made available by sellers/suppliers in the smartphone market of India.

“This has the effect of disparaging the goods, services or trade of another person,” CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said in the complaint.

Further, he said as per rule 4 of the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022, the advertisement by Flipkart “is misleading because it doesn’t contain truthful and honest representation and is wholly incorrect, malicious, misleading and manipulative”.

Last week, CAIT called out the advertisement with Bachchan promoting Flipkart’s upcoming Big Billion Day sale and telling consumers that deals on mobiles won’t be available offline at retail stores.

The Big Billion Days sale is slated to take place from October 8-15. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)