Read This Before Ordering Something Online…

The e-commerce industry in India has seen a tremendous growth over the years. There are numerous online shopping websites and apps that have become popular amongst consumers. However, with this growth, unethical practices by e-commerce brands have also become a major concern.

There have been several cases of unethical practices by some of the leading e-commerce brands in India. For instance, there have been reports of major e-commerce companies like Flipkart and Amazon India resorting to unethical pricing tactics to gain an edge over competitors. These include offering discounts and other incentives that are not available to customers at other retailers.

Another unethical practice by e-commerce brands is the manipulation of customer reviews. Many e-commerce companies pay people to write positive reviews for their products and services, while deleting negative reviews. This leads to customers being misled into buying products that may not be of good quality.

In addition to this, some e-commerce websites have also been known to indulge in false advertising. This includes making false claims about the products and services being offered, as well as making exaggerated claims about discounts and offers. This misleads customers into buying things that may not be in their best interest.

According to a report by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), several e-commerce companies were found guilty of engaging in unfair business practices, including false advertising, deceptive pricing, and exclusive tie-ups with certain vendors. The report also highlighted the lack of transparency in pricing and the need for more regulation in the industry.

In another study conducted by LocalCircles, a community platform for Indian consumers, 60% of respondents reported experiencing some form of unethical behavior by e-commerce companies. The most common complaints were related to false advertising, deceptive pricing, and poor quality products.

Furthermore, some e-commerce brands in India also resort to bait and switch tactics. This involves luring customers with attractive offers but then delivering a different product than what was promised. This can lead to customers being cheated out of their money and not getting the product they were expecting.

Finally, there are also reports of e-commerce websites engaging in data mining and using customer information for their own benefit without the customer’s consent or knowledge. This leads to customers feeling violated and can lead to a breach of trust between the customer and the e-commerce brand.

These are some of the unethical practices by e-commerce brands in India that need to be addressed urgently. The government should take steps to ensure that these practices are curbed as soon as possible so that customers are not taken advantage of. Furthermore, customers should also do their due diligence before buying from any online store so as to avoid falling prey to such unethical practices.

Conclusion:

The e-commerce industry in India has brought many benefits to consumers, including greater convenience, accessibility, and choice. However, the unethical practices by some of the biggest brands in the country have raised concerns about fairness, transparency, and consumer protection. It is important for regulators and consumers alike to hold these companies accountable for their actions and to demand greater transparency and fairness in the industry.

Source:
1)https://yourstory.com/mystory/unethical-practices-ecommerce-indian-customers

2)https://www.themuseindia.com/article/what-are-the-unethical-practices-in-e-commerce/

3)https://www.wanderpurple.com/common-unethical-practices-in-ecommerce/

4)https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2019/12/20/how-address-ecommerce-unethical-practices