REDBUS.IN is an online site which has improved a lot from the last time when I checked this site some months before in Hyderabad, but I haven’t used it that time. Last week I got a chance to use REDBUS services, as I have to go to Indore from Pune, and one of my friend suggest it being a very good service to use. So, I visited the site and in excitement books the ticket online for friday night 9 PM bus by Hans Travels to Indore. Now I must tell you all that REDBUS is just a service provider which will provide online/phone booking of buses of other travel agencies, but it didn’t provide its own bus services. Its like an agent working in between, taking commissions from travels and the customers. So, I got a ticket for the date and time alongwith reporting place details. Being a software engineer the time suited me well, the bus being a non A/C bus.
This is what happened. On the travel date at about 3 PM I got a phone from Hans travels stating that there is no bus service for Indore at 9PM, so I had to reschedule my journey, and he asked me to schedule the journey for 5:30 PM bus. It was a ridiculuos offer for me (I cannot make it, that’s why I chose 9 PM yaar). But after discussion I rescheduled for an AC bus service for 8 PM. I was asked to pay extra charges at the time of reporting. I was in tension, that whether I am able to go or not, but I did got the ticket and after seeing the extra charges, I thought once to cancel my journey, but I have to go, so I take the tickets. I boooked the ticket at REDBUS for Rs. 520 (Sleeper Non AC) and I got AC sleeper ticket for RS. 1200 (RS. 700 travels charged me extra). I was just stood dumbstruck like a ping pong ball between REDBUS and TRAVEL AGENCY, and it was my worst experience with the bus service till date. Now let me give you some more points regarding REDBUS.IN to avoid using it:
- I am reading my REDBUS ticket and in that it is written what the REDBUS responsibilities are and what are not - Customer support and information in case of delays/inconvenience comes under their responsibility, although I didnt get any call regarding cancellation of 9 PM bus. Now I think that there is no 9 PM service, that is just some plan from Travel agencies (probably including REDBUS also) to loot the passesngers, so that they have to avail AC bus service, and they can charge extra money from them. The fact being that most online ticket bookers are software proffessionals.
2.But their responsibilities does not include anything about bus being cancelled and the inconvenience caused by it to the traveller. They are just agents who didn’t provide any bus service.
So, from that day I have decided not to use REDBUS.IN ever, that was my first and last usage of the site, and yet I am getting updated from them regularly about new services (which are as usual of no use). Its better to take a ticket directly from TRAVEL SERVICE SITES, (if you want online booking), there are many good options like kesineni travels (Really good Buses, taking less times), and not book any tickets online especially from TRAVEL AGENTS SITES (like redbus.in). OR you can book the tickets by directly visiting the travel services’ offices, yes it takes time if you’re busy but atleast it will provide you reliable service.
Ruchir.