Festive Sales: Placed Order But Never Received Parcel, Online Shoppers Flag Fraud

The festive season brings great joy for online shoppers who wait for sales and discounts to make expensive purchases. But this year, several buyers are flagging what they describe as a “calculated scam” wherein orders confirmed during sale periods first get delayed and later cancelled, often without their consent.

A user on X (formerly Twitter) posted about his experience with Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale.

He had ordered an ASUS laptop on September 22, with an EMI payment and card discount, only to find the delivery date pushed back again and again. Each time he contacted customer service, he was told to wait a little longer. Finally, after nearly two weeks, the order was cancelled, without his consent. The money he had paid through EMI and gift cards was still stuck, and the same laptop was now selling for Rs 10,000 more.

His post, calling it “a calculated scam,” went viral. Dozens of other users jumped in with similar stories. One said their delivery agent called asking for an OTP “to reschedule the delivery,” which later turned out to be a cancellation code. 

Another said they had gone to the local warehouse themselves after several days of delay, only to be told the order was cancelled and their exchange product rejected. Some even claimed that sellers cancel orders deliberately once sale prices end, pushing customers to repurchase at a higher rate.

Most of these complaints echo a similar pattern where products are likely oversold. Sellers, who could not meet the demand, delay the delivery leading to eventual cancellation of the discounted deal. The refunds, as users have explained, take weeks to process. However, the platform fee added to the actual amount does not get refunded, amounting to a loss from the pockets of online shoppers.

While e-commerce companies like Flipkart and Amazon advertise fast delivery and easy returns, customers are often left without a clear way to resolve, especially during festive season sales when the order disappears or never reaches their door.

What can you do if you face a similar issue?

When an online order gets delayed or cancelled without notice, the first thing you can do is to write directly to the platform’s grievance email.

In case it’s a Flipkart order - you can email to cs@flipkart.com, and for Amazon, grievance-officer@amazon.in

In the email, make sure to include your order ID, transaction details and any screenshots of the conversation with the customer care team or executive. This will help establish a clear record of your issue.

If the refund doesn’t come through, you can speak to your bank and request a chargeback, most card issuers allow this when a product hasn’t been delivered.

For EMI purchases, the process might take a few weeks, but the request can still be initiated through your bank’s grievance redressal portal.

In cases where the company doesn’t respond, some consumers send a short legal notice. Many may find this complicated, but you can just send a written demand for a refund within a specific timeframe (like 15 days) with mentions of your transaction details and communication history.

Many customers also approach the National Consumer Helpline at consumerhelpline.gov.in, which mediates disputes between consumers and companies free of cost.

And if the problem still drags on, filing a complaint with the district consumer court remains an option. The process can take time but is often effective, courts have previously ordered platforms to issue refunds and even pay compensation for such delays.

Apart from these official measures, like contacting the customer support team or reaching the consumer court, you can also escalate the matter on social media platforms like X by tagging the official handles of these platforms (such as @AmazonIN or @FlipkartSupport) with #ConsumerRights (@jagograhakjago) and other relevant hashtags.

For most customers, though, it’s not just about the money. The frustration lies in being misled, in seeing the same item suddenly costlier a week later, or having to fight to recover funds that should never have been held up. Whether it is poor inventory planning or negligence by third-party sellers, the impact falls entirely on the buyer.

With every festive season growing bigger than the last, it is clear that stronger accountability and faster resolution are no longer optional but overdue.