• Source:JND
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Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale, normally marketed as India's largest shopping festival, has landed in trouble this time around. Consumers claim advertised discounts on high-end phones such as the iPhone 16 and Google Pixel 9 were mere hype. Most customers claim their purchases were cancelled shortly after they made the payment, leaving them phoneless and, in some cases, refundless as well.

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Social Media Uproar Over Misleading Offers

On sites such as X (formerly Twitter), angry customers have accused Flipkart of misleading shoppers with discounts that are too good to be true. The iPhone 16, touted at a record-low price, sold out nearly in a jiffy. But those who were lucky enough to put in an order received cancellation emails soon after. Adding insult to injury, the same phones apparently re-emerged on the site a few minutes later at the normal price, triggering rumours of wilful manipulation.

Hidden Charges Fuel Anger

What has upset customers the most is the charging of so-called non-refundable fees even after cancellation. These include payment handling, offer handling, protection guarantees, and even pickup fees. Customers complain that this is not only taking their money but also allowing Flipkart to make money from cancellations while creating the illusion of huge discounts.

Dreams of Cheap iPhones Ruined

To most consumers, the sale was their sole opportunity to acquire an iPhone 16 or another high-end device at a discounted price. Repeated cancellations and charges, however, have seen them label the sale a "trap" for loyal customers instead of a real bargain.

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A Recurring Pattern in Festive Sales

This is not the first time that festive sale events have attracted such criticism. Customers have made similar complaints against Flipkart and Amazon during flash sales and discount campaigns in the past too. Anything from undelivered products to surprise charges that cut down the worth of offers, shoppers claim that mega sales are less about savings and more about hype.